The Spelman Seven: Meet the valedictorians making history at Spelman College
At the end of her junior year at Spelman College, Nia-Sarai Perry was satisfied with her record. A philosophy major, she had earned straight A’s — save for a single A minus that nudged her grade-point average just below a perfect 4.0.
“I said, you know what, as long as I graduate summa cum laude (with highest praise), it’s fine,” she recalled. “I won’t worry about it.”
Then Alexis Sims, a fellow philosophy major with a 4.0 and her own sights set on being the class of 2026’s valedictorian, pulled her aside.
“You need to get that 4.0. You need to take that class over so we can make history,” Sims told her. “I want you to do this with me. You’re right here at the finish line. So push through.”
On Sunday, Perry and Sims will walk across the stage at Spelman College’s 139th commencement ceremony as valedictorians. They will not be alone.
They are part of a historic class: a record seven valedictorians at the Atlanta all-women’s historically Black college. They are future doctors, lawyers, filmmakers and storytellers.
Joining Perry and Sims are Aiyana Ringo, Alyssa Richardson, Cori’Anna White, Sophia Davis and Mariama Diallo. All seven, who entered Spelman together in the fall of 2022, finished with perfect 4.0 grade-point averages.
Mark Lee, Spelman’s provost and senior vice president of academic affairs, called the milestone “nothing short of extraordinary.”
“Earning a perfect GPA is a rare distinction, and to see seven Spelman students reach that pinnacle in the same class speaks to their discipline, intellect and unwavering commitment to excellence,” Lee said. “Each of these scholars has not only mastered her academic field but has also contributed meaningfully to the life of the college. They exemplify the very best of Spelman’s legacy and future, and we celebrate the impact they are prepared to make in the world.”
At a recent photo shoot, Perry embraced Sims and reflected on what they had accomplished together. The two are the first philosophy majors in the college’s history to be named valedictorians.
“I’m forever indebted to her and forever grateful for her pushing me,” Perry said of Sims, before turning to the rest of the valedictorians. “But these are all my sisters.”
The Spelman Seven
Sophia Davis: 22, Brooklyn
Sociology and Anthropology
What does it mean to share this honor with six other Spelman sisters? This is the true embodiment of what Spelman stands for: fostering sisterhood and friendship. To be able to share this moment with these other incredibly brilliant women feels like the culmination of everything that we’ve been working on over our four years together.
What are your plans after graduation? To continue my work documenting culture as an artist, musician, writer, arranger of music, songwriter and researcher. As a sociology and anthropology major, I look up to people like Zora Neale Hurston, who were committed to documenting Black culture and telling Black stories while also creating those stories. I aspire to create work like that, whether it be in the written word or musically.
Were there any close calls? That stats class almost got me — almost got me — but it didn’t. I got the 4.0.
What advice would you give to other Spelman students? Have faith, be patient with yourself, and know that you don’t have to have everything figured out. Pay attention to who you feel like you can be yourself around the most, and hold on to those people. Ask them questions, believe in them, show up for them when they need help, bring them soup when they get sick, and love on them as much as you can. And they will do the same for you.
Mariama Diallo: 22, Brooklyn
Documentary Filmmaking and Psychology
What does it mean to share this honor with six other Spelman sisters? I’ve known them since freshman year, and to see them grow and matriculate through their majors has truly been an honor for me because I know how hard it is to become valedictorian and to get the GPAs that we have. 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.
What are your plans after graduation? Serving as an executive director for the George Walker Jr. Community Coalition in Brooklyn. I’m also developing a feature film called “For The Crown,” so stay tuned for that.
Were there any close calls? I took a class called Statistics and Psych, and I got an A minus, so I retook the class for an A. That was really the only close call, but I worked for it, and I got it, and we’re here now.
What advice would you give to other Spelman students? I would tell my sisters to pace themselves and to know that even when they’re going through their darkest moments that they are loved and that they have a community, whether they realize it or not. And even if they feel like they’re alone, there’s still one sister who is going to be there. This sisterhood is strong.
Nia-Sarai Perry, 22, Tallahassee
Philosophy
What does it mean to share this honor with six other Spelman sisters? I did not come into Spelman with this goal. Things just started to align for me, but I am just so blessed and so honored. 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.
What are your plans after graduation? I’ll be working in the private equity group with the law firm DLA Piper, and then I will be pursuing law school to eventually become a corporate attorney and practice business law.
Were there any close calls? Being at Spelman is a close call. My mom is a breast cancer survivor, so there were times when I would travel home to take care of her, when I would go to class on Zoom, when I just wasn’t able to be physically present. So I had to lean on my Spelman sisters not only to encourage me and uplift me but to also just be my support system in Atlanta and back home.
What advice would you give to other Spelman students? Take a deep breath. Every individual coming into Spelman is extremely high-achieving, and when you’ve already surpassed big goals, you come in wanting to go higher. If I could go back, I would tell myself to calm down. It’s going to be OK. You’re going to be fine. And don’t feel like you have to go through everything alone. Be more vulnerable and more open.
Alyssa Richardson, 21, Washington, D.C.
Biochemistry
What does it mean to share this honor with six other Spelman sisters? Spelman is like a Black girl Disneyland, where we can come and be ourselves and grow in our excellence and be leaders. To see that reflected in the valedictorians, and being distinguished with my sisters, it’s just amazing. I feel strengthened in it. It validates my experience.
What are your plans after graduation? I will be attending the University of Pennsylvania for medical school on a full scholarship. I will be pursuing my doctorate of medicine and becoming a physician to help close health disparities and social injustices.
Were there any close calls? There were a lot of long nights. Being a biochemistry major is difficult — labs, long exams and projects. Balancing academics with being a vocalist and participating in the Spelman Glee Club. The whole four years was a close call, but I persevered.
What advice would you give to other Spelman students? Keep going and lean into all the experiences Spelman has to offer. Check your email. Show up. Apply to things. You are enough.
Aiyana Ringo, 22, New Orleans
Sociology
What does it mean to share this honor with six other Spelman sisters? It’s very difficult to be valedictorian at Spelman and seeing seven Black women accomplish that shows our brilliance and our excellence. It makes it more powerful and shows how we can make history.
What are your plans after graduation? I’ll be working as a paralegal for the Federal Defenders of the Eastern District of New York before going to law school to become a civil rights attorney focusing on criminal litigation and civil rights.
Were there any close calls? Sophomore year. I took a philosophy class and had an A minus. In the last week of school, I was scared I wasn’t going to get my 4.0 in the class, but he added one more assignment, and it brought me up to an A. It worked out in the end.
What advice would you give to other Spelman students? Be comfortable with being uncomfortable. You’re going to do things that challenge you and scare you, but those moments are what make you grow the most. When I was the most scared, I got the most out of it.
Alexis Sims, 22, Atlanta
Political Science and Philosophy
What does it mean to share this honor with six other Spelman sisters? I’m truly honored to share the valedictorian position with six of my other Spelman sisters. It’s been a long time coming for all of us to get here. But to share this special moment together is truly an honor.
What are your plans after graduation? I will be attending the Georgia Institute of Technology to pursue my Master of Science in International Affairs. Soon after, I plan on attending law school and eventually becoming a civil rights attorney, an international human rights lawyer, an American constitutional law lawyer, as well as a professor in philosophy. I might get tired of one and switch to the other — but those are my goals.
Were there any close calls? Sophomore year, I broke my foot in the fall, and for about three months, I was attending classes using a wheelchair. That same year, in the spring, I also had a concussion. It was just a rough year for me. I’m really proud of myself for overcoming that year, dealing with a lot of health challenges that made attending classes and completing assignments more difficult.
What advice would you give to other Spelman students? Believe in yourself. When I was coming into Spelman, I wrote down several of my goals, and one of them was possibly being valedictorian. It wasn’t something I held too tightly, but it was something I hoped to achieve one day. And here I am, four years later, able to say that I’m one of the valedictorians of Spelman College’s Class of 2026. That makes me really proud — not just of myself but of my sisters as well — for joining me and our 500 other classmates in graduating this May.
Cori’Anna White, 22, Miami
Political Science, SGA President
What does it mean to share this honor with six other Spelman sisters? When I think of the significance of the number seven, which is the number of valedictorians this year, I think of it from a biblical perspective. Seven is the number of completion. Being able to embark upon this experience and make history at Spelman College is something that is truly significant, especially in a perilous time in which we’re seeing African American communities attacked in a myriad of ways. Being here at the number one HBCU, surrounded by Black excellence and being able to instill that in our communities is something that I am so grateful for.
What are your plans after graduation? I will be entering the class of 2029 at Columbia Law.
Were there any close calls? Going back to my sophomore year, I took constitutional law. That is one of the most difficult classes that you can take at Spelman. One thing that I can say is that during that experience, I learned the importance of being undaunted. We at Spelman speak a lot about that, but I learned about advocating for myself, going to office hours, creating study groups and knowing what my goal is at hand.
What advice would you give to other Spelman students? I would encourage the future Spelmanites to embrace every single moment, to be true to themselves and to understand that their race is their own. Sometimes we aspire for greatness so much that we experience burnout and impostor syndrome. Everyone has a gift and a purpose. It’s up to them to execute it.
About the Author
Ernie Suggs is an enterprise reporter covering race and culture for the AJC since 1997. A 1990 graduate of N.C. Central University and a 2009 Harvard University Nieman Fellow, he is also the former vice president of the National Association of Black Journalists. His obsession with Prince, Spike Lee movies, Hamilton and the New York Yankees is odd.