Spelman’s graduating class is getting ready to throw their caps in the air. Making history this year are the seven—yes, seven—Spelman sisters who have earned the title of valedictorian because of their shining academic records and their on- and off-campus participation in research, internships, and fellowships designed to help make the future world a better place. To celebrate this incredible, history-making achievement for the Spelman students, we’ve done a deep dive into who they are and what makes them the students who have been selected to represent the class of 2026.
Aiyana Ringo
Sociology major Aiyanna Ringo is working toward a career in criminal-legal reform, according to Spelman College. She has an extensive resume with seven internships under her belt, ranging from roles at the YMCA Greater Atlanta as a Georgia Women’s Policy Institute fellow to a research assistant position at the Southern Poverty Law Center in Alabama.
After graduation, the New Orleans native will be heading to the East Coast to be a paralegal on federal criminal court cases at the Federal Defenders of the Eastern District of New York, per Spelman College.
Alyssa Richardson
Hailing from Washington, D.C., 21-year-old biochemistry major Alyssa Richardson worked hard to receive the honor of being valedictorian. According to Spelman College, Richardson has focused on clinical, global health and chemistry research with the University of Pennsylvania, the University of Cape Town, the Morehouse School of Medicine and Howard University College of Medicine throughout her time at Spelman. Her shining resume also includes internships at the National Institutes of Health and at George Washington University.
Her rigorous hours of studying and extracurricular activities, such as the Spelman Chemistry Club and the Spelman College Glee Club, have earned Richardson a full-ride scholarship to study for her doctoral medical degree at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, according to Spelman.
Nia-Sarai Perry
Tallahassee, Florida, native Nia-Sarai Perry has been a valedictorian twice in her life. She graduated from high school with a 4.6 GPA, all while being the sole caregiver for her mom, who was battling breast cancer. Now, Perry has received another dazzling academic record from Spelman College with a 4.0 GPA, according to Spelman College.
The 22-year-old aspiring corporate attorney has worked as a business integration and strategy intern for the Walt Disney Company, an outreach intern for The King Center and an intern at the Florida State University College of Law, according to her resume. After graduation, Perry will be working in private equity at the DLA Piper law firm, according to the Atlanta-based publication UATL.
Cori’Anna White
Political science major and Spanish minor Cori’Anna White arrived at Spelman College with a full-ride scholarship as a Dovey Johnson Roundtree Presidential scholar. Her time at Spelman has been valuable for her pursuit of a career in public office, as she has gained experience through programs with Harvard Business School, internships on Wall Street and traveled across the globe, from China to Morocco, learning about the business world abroad, according to Spelman College.
Instead of returning to her hometown of Miami, Florida, after graduation, the 22-year-old will be off to New York to get a graduate degree from Columbia Law School, per UATL.
Sophia Davis
Coming from Brooklyn, 22-year-old Sophia Davis has secured a double major in sociology and anthropology with a minor in Spanish, all while being the first student director of the contemporary music ensemble, Noire, according to Spelman College. While music is a passion for Davis, she also has a strong focus on the environment and has done research at the University of California, Berkeley on how disadvantaged communities can access clean drinking water, per Spelman College.
Davis’ resume also shows how her love for the arts allows her to do valuable work in her local community. She has worked as a summer intern for the Brooklyn Children’s Theatre and as an undergraduate research fellow for the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture at the New York Public Library.
Mariama Diallo
Another Brooklyn native, 22-year-old Mariama Diallo, is also graduating with double majors in psychology and documentary filmmaking. According to Spelman College, Diallo committed herself to multiple leadership initiatives, including serving as president of the Atlanta University Center Muslim Student Association and helping resurrect Spelman’s Big Sister Little Sister Exchange tradition, which pairs upperclassmen with younger students for valuable mentorship during their college years.
Diallo has impressive self-produced and directed documentary film projects under her belt. She has also worked as a freelance film coordinator and an assistant director for the George Walker Jr. Community Coalition in Brooklyn. According to an interview with UATL, she will return as an executive director after graduation.
Alexis Renae Sims
Rounding off the seven Spelman College valedictorians is 22-year-old Alexis Renae Sims. Coming from Atlanta, Sims went to Spelman College to pursue a double major in philosophy and political science. If that wasn’t enough to keep Sims busy, she has also served as a fellow and research assistant with the Spelman College Social Justice Program and a teaching assistant with Common Good Atlanta – an organization that enables inmates in Georgia prisons to access college courses, according to Spelman College.
Sims has spent time as a congressional intern in the office of Sen. Jon Ossoff (D-GA) and worked as a policy and advocacy intern at the American Civil Liberties Union in Atlanta. After graduation, Sims plans to further her education by pursuing a Master of Science in international affairs at the Georgia Institute of Technology, according to UATL.
