The “Spelman Seven” Make History as Largest Group of Valedictorians in Spelman College History
Seven seniors at Spelman College are making history as the largest group of valedictorians the school has ever produced. Known as the “Spelman Seven,” Sophia Davis, Mariama Diallo, Nia-Sarai Perry, Alyssa Richardson, Aiyanna Ringo, Alexis Sims and Cori’Anna White each earned a perfect 4.0 GPA while balancing leadership roles, internships, research opportunities and personal challenges throughout their college careers.
The seven women entered Spelman together in 2022 and are now graduating together as the top students in the Class of 2026. Their achievement stands out not only because of their academic excellence, but also because of the supportive environment they created for one another during their time at the historically Black women’s college.
Rather than competing against each other, the women encouraged one another to succeed. Perry, who plans to pursue corporate law, was motivated by fellow valedictorian Alexis Sims to retake a course after receiving an A-minus that threatened her perfect GPA. That sense of community became a major part of the group’s success story.
Each graduate built an impressive resume outside the classroom as well. Richardson, a biochemistry major from Washington, D.C., conducted research with several prestigious institutions and earned a full scholarship to attend medical school at the University of Pennsylvania. Ringo completed multiple internships focused on criminal justice reform and will work on federal criminal cases in New York after graduation.
White, a political science major and former student government leader, plans to attend Columbia Law School after gaining experience through internships and international programs. Davis combined her interests in sociology, anthropology and music while researching environmental justice and clean water access.
Diallo balanced psychology and documentary filmmaking studies while leading mentorship and community initiatives on campus. Sims focused on political science, philosophy and social justice advocacy, including work with incarcerated students and congressional policy initiatives.
The women also overcame personal hardships while maintaining their academic standing. Perry supported her mother during her battle with breast cancer, while Sims continued her studies after suffering serious injuries during college.
As graduation approaches, the “Spelman Seven” are leaving behind more than perfect grades. Their accomplishment represents collaboration, resilience and the continued legacy of Black excellence at Spelman College.
