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August 20, 2026

Berry College Named Among Nation’s Best By The Princeton Review

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Berry College has again earned national recognition as one of the country’s best institutions for undergraduate education, according to the latest college guide from The Princeton Review.

August 15, 2026

by Jimmy Holbrook

Berry College Announces Fall Senior Scholars Program For Adults 55 And Older

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Adults age 55 and older will have an opportunity to continue learning, explore new interests and connect with others through the Fall 2026 Senior Scholars program at Oak Hill & The Martha Berry Museum.

The continuing education program, established in 1994, offers a variety of courses, lectures and special tours led by Berry College faculty and local experts.

This fall’s semester will feature more than 30 offerings covering history, literature, technology, the arts, wellness and local culture.

Participants will be able to explore topics ranging from the Declaration of Independence and the global response to the Holocaust to ballroom dancing, pickleball, mindfulness, creative writing and digital design using Canva.

Senior Scholars is designed to provide lifelong learning opportunities while also encouraging personal enrichment and community connections among participants.

The program is offered through Oak Hill & The Martha Berry Museum and Berry College.

Those interested in participating can contact Oak Hill & The Martha Berry Museum or visit its website for additional information about Fall 2026 courses, registration and scheduling.

August 10, 2026

by Jimmy Holbrook

Berry College Demolition Of Historic Buildings Draws Alumni Backlash

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Photo Credit: AJC

Berry College is facing criticism from alumni and historic preservation advocates following the demolition of two of the college’s oldest buildings, prompting calls for greater transparency about how the Rome college handles its historic properties.

July 28, 2026

by Jimmy Holbrook

Berry College Partners With Georgia Department Of Corrections To Bring College Courses To Walker State Prison (Correction)

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Berry College is partnering with the Georgia Department of Corrections to expand access to higher education for incarcerated individuals, with a focus on rehabilitation, personal growth, and successful reentry.

July 26, 2026

by Jimmy Holbrook

Oak Hill And The Martha Berry Museum To Host Free Family Morning

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Oak Hill and The Martha Berry Museum will close out the summer break with another free Family Morning program on Wednesday, July 29, from 10 a.m. until 1 p.m.

The family-friendly event is open to all ages and is designed to engage young learners and their families through interactive and educational activities. Family Morning programs are offered several times throughout the year during school breaks, giving families an opportunity to explore the museum together.

The theme for July’s program is “Colors at Berry.” Participants will be encouraged to discover the colors, patterns and artistic inspiration found inside The Martha Berry Museum and throughout Berry College’s historic campus.

Activities will include a color scavenger hunt inside the museum, creating a garden design inspired by the gardens at Oak Hill and exploring the patterns and science behind stained glass, using the windows of Frost Chapel as inspiration.

Local artist Patricia Eastin will also present a live oil painting demonstration during the event.

Admission is free, and no age restrictions were announced. Organizers note that the Oak Hill home will not be open for tours during the Family Morning program.

July 9, 2026

by Jimmy Holbrook

Berry College Receives Nearly $750,000 for Longleaf Pine Restoration Project

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Berry College and the Georgia Department of Natural Resources have been awarded nearly $750,000 to restore thousands of acres of longleaf pine habitat in Northwest Georgia.

The project is supported by a $387,100 grant from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, with matching funds bringing the total investment to nearly $750,000.

The grant was secured by Dr. Adrienne Ernst, director of the Berry College Longleaf Pine Project, along with collaborators Carlee Steppe and Allison Melcher of the Georgia Department of Natural Resources’ Wildlife Resources Division.

The funding will be used to restore calcareous flatwoods and montane longleaf pine habitats at Berry College and nearby Georgia DNR Wildlife Management Areas. The project also aims to help recover Mohr’s Barbara’s button, a federally threatened plant species found in the flatwoods.

Officials say more than 3,000 acres will be restored and managed through prescribed burning, invasive species control, and targeted habitat improvements. The team will also develop a 50-year management plan to guide long-term conservation efforts across the landscape.

June 25, 2026

by Jimmy Holbrook

Berry College Earns National Career Readiness Award

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Berry College has received national recognition for its commitment to preparing students for successful careers, earning an honorable mention from the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) for career readiness excellence.

College officials said the award recognizes Berry’s distinctive LifeWorks program, which provides students with meaningful paid work experiences and professional development opportunities throughout their college careers. More than 90 percent of Berry students participate in the program, which offers over 1,000 paid student jobs across more than 180 campus departments.

According to Berry College, 85 percent of graduating seniors credit their student work experiences and supervisors with helping them achieve their career goals. The college also reports that 99 percent of graduates have achieved a positive career outcome within six months of graduation for the past six consecutive years.

Dean of Personal and Professional Development Marc Hunsaker said the recognition reflects the college’s efforts to embed career readiness throughout the student experience, while President Sandeep Mazumder noted that the program helps students connect learning with leadership and future career success.

June 4, 2026

by Jimmy Holbrook

Berry College Students Named Gilman Scholars

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Three Berry College students have received Gilman Scholarships to support their study abroad programs in Japan, Spain and Costa Rica this summer.

June 1, 2026

by Jimmy Holbrook

Berry College Earns A+ Financial Health Rating From Forbes For Second Straight Year

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Berry College has once again received national recognition for its financial strength, earning an A+ rating in Forbes’ 2026 College Financial Grades.

April 26, 2026

by Jimmy Holbrook

Dan Cathy To Speak At Berry College Commencement

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Chick-fil-A Chairman and Berry College Trustee Emeritus Dan Cathy will serve as the speaker for Berry College’s Class of 2026 Commencement Celebration on Saturday, May 9th, at Valhalla Stadium.

Berry College will celebrate approximately 545 undergraduate graduates beginning at 9:00 a.m. The Class of 2026 represents 47 academic majors and includes students from 31 states.

Gates will open at 8:00 a.m., with early entry beginning at 7:30 a.m. for guests who need special assistance. Due to current lane closures on Highway 27, guests are encouraged to enter campus through the back entrance at 221 Legacy Drive Northwest.

Cathy served on the Berry College Board of Trustees from 2001 to 2016. He is chairman of Chick-fil-A, the Atlanta-based restaurant chain founded in 1946 by his father, S. Truett Cathy.

Cathy is also the founder and chief visionary at Trilith, a major film and entertainment community in Fayette County that includes one of the largest purpose-built movie studios in North America.

Berry graduate students will receive their degrees during a separate commencement ceremony on Friday, May 8th, at the College Chapel. A Baccalaureate Service honoring graduating seniors will be held at 4:00 p.m. on Wednesday, May 6th, also at the chapel.