Berry College to Celebrate Class of 2026

The chairman of Chick-fil-A, Inc. and Berry College Trustee Emeriti Dan Cathy will be the speaker for the Class of 2026 Commencement Celebration on May 9 at Valhalla Stadium.

Berry will celebrate the graduation of approximately 545 undergraduates beginning at 9 a.m. The graduating class represents 47 academic majors and hails from 31 states.

The gates open at 8 a.m. with early entry at 7:30 a.m. for those who need special assistance. Current lane closures on Highway 27 remain in effect. In response to these closures, guests should plan to arrive through the back entrance at 221 Legacy Drive, NW.

Cathy served on the Berry Board of Trustees from 2001 to 2016. He serves as 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, the largest movie studio in the Southeast, producing some of the highest-grossing blockbusters in entertainment. It is a master-planned community in Fayette County, Georgia, featuring North America’s largest purpose-built studio and home to global businesses, thought leaders and storytellers across the film, sports and entertainment industries.

Berry graduate students will receive their degrees at a commencement ceremony on May 8 at the College Chapel. A Baccalaureate Service honoring graduating seniors will be at 4 p.m. on May 6 at the chapel.

For more information, visit https://berry.edu/student-life/campus-events/commencement.