Introducing “The Spelman Seven.”
Seven Spelman College seniors are graduating as valedictorians after earning perfect 4.0 GPAs, making history as the largest group of valedictorians in the college’s history.
The classmates say they carried one another through demanding coursework, late nights, family responsibilities and personal sacrifices.
Their story is about more than academic achievement — it is about sisterhood, discipline and what can happen when Black women refuse to let each other fall behind.
Comment “🩵” and we’ll send you the full story on #TheSpelmanSeven.
🖋️: Ernie Suggs / AJC
🎥: Keith Lovely Jr. / AJC
#hbcu #spelman #valedictorian #uatl
Several Atlanta public figures are celebrating their children becoming Divine Nine members.
The children of Rashan Ali Smith, Morehouse President F. DuBois Bowman, T.I. and Clark Atlanta President George T. French Jr. recently became members of Black Greek-letter organizations at HBCUs.
Read the full story at the link in our bio.
🖋️ : Christopher A. Daniel / AJC
📸 : @rashanali | @meglan.hannah | @freddyophotos | @jjflix_ | @jp.visuals._
#blackculture #blackgreeklife #divinenine #hbcu #uatl
After news of the split between Kandi Burruss and Todd Tucker was announced, social media time lines exploded — inciting incessant commentary and rumors.
It also served as the inspiration for Burruss’ next act: a one-woman show.
The new production, titled “I Do. I Did. I’m Done,” debuted to a sold-out crowd at Atlanta’s City Winery last month. Nine more dates across the country have been added, including a second Atlanta show at Buckhead Theatre on Wednesday.
In between juggling her family, her full work load and upcoming performances, Kandi sat down to talk with the AJC about her journey to heal, co-parenting successfully and finding joy.
Drop a 🎤 for the link to the full interview.
🖋: DeAsia Paige
🎥: James Evans
Meet Sophia Davis 🎓✨
Hometown: Brooklyn
Major: Sociology and Anthropology
Next chapter: Continuing her work documenting Black culture as an artist, musician, writer and researcher — following in the tradition of Zora Neale Hurston.
One of seven valedictorians in Spelman College’s Class of 2026, a record-setting group of Spelman sisters who each finished with a perfect 4.0 GPA.
In her words: "This is the true embodiment of what Spelman stands for: fostering sisterhood and friendship."
Congratulations, @somiteda 🩵
Comment SEVEN to get the full story.
🖋️: Ernie Suggs / AJC
🎥: Keith Lovely Jr / AJC
#BlackExcellence #HBCU #SpelmanSeven #Spelman #UATL
Meet Nia-Sarai Perry 🎓✨
Hometown: Tallahassee
Major: Philosophy
Next chapter: Joining the private equity group at law firm DLA Piper before heading to law school to become a corporate attorney.
One of seven valedictorians in Spelman College’s Class of 2026, a record-setting group of Spelman sisters who each finished with a perfect 4.0 GPA.
In her words: "I give nothing to myself. I give it all to God, so I’m just so happy and so grateful to be able to not only be here for myself and my family, but also to be here with all of my Spelman sisters as well."
Congratulations, @nia.sarai 🩵
Comment SEVEN to get the full story.
🖋️: Ernie Suggs / AJC
🎥: Keith Lovely Jr / AJC
#BlackExcellence #HBCU #SpelmanSeven #Spelman #UATL
Meet Mariama Diallo 🎓✨
Hometown: Brooklyn
Major: Documentary Filmmaking and Psychology
Next chapter: Serving as executive director for the George Walker Jr. Community Coalition in Brooklyn and developing her feature film, "For The Crown."
One of seven valedictorians in Spelman College’s Class of 2026, a record-setting group of Spelman sisters who each finished with a perfect 4.0 GPA.
In her words: "It’s well deserved across all seven of us, and truly, they’re my Spelman sisters, so I’m really just honored and happy to be here with them."
Congratulations, @_mariamadiallo_ 🩵
Comment SEVEN to get the full story.
🖋️: Ernie Suggs / AJC
🎥: Keith Lovely Jr / AJC
#BlackExcellence #HBCU #SpelmanSeven #Spelman #UATL
Meet Cori'Anna White 🎓✨
Hometown: Miami
Major: Political Science (and SGA President)
Next chapter: Entering the Class of 2029 at Columbia Law.
One of seven valedictorians in Spelman College’s Class of 2026, a record-setting group of Spelman sisters who each finished with a perfect 4.0 GPA.
In her words: "Everyone has a gift and a purpose. It's up to them to execute it."
Congratulations, corianna.k 🩵
Comment SEVEN to get the full story.
🖋️: Ernie Suggs / AJC
🎥: Keith Lovely Jr / AJC
#BlackExcellence #HBCU #SpelmanSeven #Spelman #UATL
Meet Alyssa Richardson 🎓✨
Hometown: Washington, D.C.
Major: Biochemistry
Next chapter: Attending medical school at the University of Pennsylvania — on a full scholarship — with plans to become a physician and help close health disparities.
One of seven valedictorians in Spelman College’s Class of 2026, a record-setting group of Spelman sisters who each finished with a perfect 4.0 GPA.
In her words: "Spelman is like a Black girl Disneyland, where we can come and be ourselves and grow in our excellence and be leaders."
Congratulations, alyssagalore_ 🩵
Comment SEVEN to get the full story.
🖋️: Ernie Suggs / AJC
🎥: Keith Lovely Jr / AJC
#BlackExcellence #HBCU #SpelmanSeven #Spelman #UATL
Meet Alexis Sims 🎓✨
Hometown: Atlanta
Major: Political Science and Philosophy
Next chapter: Pursuing her Master of Science in International Affairs at Georgia Tech, then law school with goals to become a civil rights and international human rights lawyer and philosophy professor.
One of seven valedictorians in Spelman College’s Class of 2026, a record-setting group of Spelman sisters who each finished with a perfect 4.0 GPA.
In her words: “This is the true embodiment of what Spelman stands for: fostering sisterhood and friendship.”
Congratulations, Alexis 🩵
Comment SEVEN to get the full story.
🖋️: Ernie Suggs / AJC
🎥: Keith Lovely Jr / AJC
#BlackExcellence #HBCU #SpelmanSeven #Spelman #UATL
Meet Aiyana Ringo 🎓✨
Hometown: New Orleans
Major: Sociology
Next chapter: Working as a paralegal for the Federal Defenders of the Eastern District of New York before law school — with her sights set on becoming a civil rights attorney.
One of seven valedictorians in Spelman College’s Class of 2026, a record-setting group of Spelman sisters who each finished with a perfect 4.0 GPA.
In her words: “It’s very difficult to be valedictorian at Spelman and seeing seven Black women accomplish that shows our brilliance and our excellence.”
Congratulations, @a__iyana 🩵
Comment SEVEN to get the full story.
🖋️: Ernie Suggs / AJC
🎥: Keith Lovely Jr / AJC
#BlackExcellence #HBCU #SpelmanSeven #Spelman #UATL
Hank. Nique. Deion ... Angel?
The first three are legends, names stenciled onto plaques in enshrinements at their respective Halls of Fame. The latter is only in her third WNBA season. She led the league in rebounding her first two years. She is a two-time All-Star. An NCAA champion. A millionaire at 24.
Angel Reese is just one name. There’s also “Bayou Barbie,” “Chicago Barbie” and, now, “ATL Barbie.”
That last nickname came as the result of the seismic shift on April 6, when the Chicago Sky announced they were trading Reese — the No. 7 selection in the 2024 WNBA draft — to the Atlanta Dream for two first-round picks.
“I’m beyond grateful for the opportunity to join the Atlanta Dream organization,” Reese said in a team statement. “I’m focused on continuing to grow my game, competing at the highest level, connecting with the fans, and giving everything I’ve got to the Dream.”
Comment “ANGEL” for a link to @writegavinwrite ’s full story on Angel Reese’s path to becoming Atlanta’s next Black sports superstar.
🖋️: Gavin Godfrey / AJC
📸: Getty
🎨: Marcie LaCerte for the AJC
#angelreese #atlanta #atlantadream #uatl #wnba
After nearly a year of heartbreak, Kandi Burruss, the Atlanta Grammy-winning singer, producer and “Real Housewives of Atlanta” alumna, remains the personification of “booked and busy.”
The AJC talked to Burruss about her new one-woman show, navigating life after divorce and how she sees her work as a partial cure to her pain.
“At some point, I might have to take a pause and be, like, ‘What do I want to do next?,’” the 49-year-old said. “Do I care to date? Do I just want to have a maintenance person? I don’t even know if I know what I really want right now. I’m not gonna put the pressure on myself to make a decision.”
Drop "FLY ABOVE" for a link to the full interview.
🖋: DeAsia Paige
🎥: James Evans
