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2 Georgia colleges named in 'Prettiest College Campuses in America' list
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Two colleges in Georgia were named among a list of the "Prettiest College Campuses in America."
The two were Berry College, a private liberal arts college in Rome, Ga., and Atlanta's Spelman College, the private women's liberal arts college known for being one of Georgia's most illustrious historically Black colleges.
The list recognizes both colleges' beautiful scenery and overall campus architecture.
Berry College
Berry College was found in 1902 by Martha Berry, who inherited the land for the school from her prominent businessmen father.
The college is known for having the world's largest campus, spanning 27,000 acres, with 41 primary buildings, and having 88 miles of trails throughout northwestern Georgia.
The list highlights Berry's scenery within its many destinations across the campus, specifically Ford Hall, named after Henry Ford, who funded it, and its "surrounding structures and its nearby reflecting pools."
"There are many beautiful campuses in the U.S., but I think Berry has a distinctive quality to it," Berry President Dr. Steve Briggs said. "We have some of the classically beautiful parts, like the beautiful stone Ford buildings, but we also have this expansive, natural beauty. It creates a sense of wonder for people when they come to campus, which I think is atypical of many campuses."
Along with the "normal" majors offered at Berry College, the school incorporates its habitat into students' academic studies using a "natural laboratory."
The campus has coyotes, allowing those who study and track coyotes to gain an understanding of "how they are a part of the ecosystem." Students can also study the health of an ecosystem by considering how the health of humans, animals, plant life and water all relate to each other, with the college's One Health program.
"You're able to not only study that academically here; you're able to go out, walk it, be part of it, and see it every day," Briggs said.
Sights such as deer grazing in the meadows, the way the buildings sit on top of an alley of trees and a small hill, the pine forests, and the small lake are all a part of why Berry College is known so widely for its nature-bound beauty.
"It's just a beautifully designed campus," Briggs said.
Spelman College
Spelman College was founded in 1881, becoming the oldest Black liberal arts institution for women. It consistently ranks as the nation's No. 1 historically Black college or university (HBCU).
Campus-wise, the list praises Spelman for its "architecturally significant buildings" like Rockefeller Hall, built in 1886 and named in honor of longtime antislavery activists Laura Spelman Rockefeller and her parents, Harvey Buel and Lucy Henry Spelman, and the 1927 Sisters Chapel, the college's religious and spiritual center.
On being named one of the most beautiful campuses worldwide, Spelman College wrote in a statement that the college is happy to be "recognized" for their designs and landscaping.
“We are honored to be recognized among the Prettiest College Campuses in America by Architectural Digest," they said. "Spelman College takes pride in our historical buildings mixed with modern designs and vibrant landscaping that make our 39-acre campus inviting for our campus community, alumnae and visitors.”
Things to look forward to in the Spelman community will be its 2024 graduation commencement Sunday, May 19, where actress, director, and executive producer Angela Bassett will be the speaker and the recipient of an honorary Doctor of Fine Arts degree. At the ceremony, Spelman will also award Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson with an honorary Doctor of Laws degree.
Spelman President Helene D. Gayle issued an statement on April 25, on the commencement:
“Spelman College is honored to have acclaimed actress and director Angela Bassett to bring words of inspiration to our graduating Class of 2024,” said Spelman College President Helene D. Gayle, M.D., MPH. “Her work has had a tremendous impact both on and off the screen and serves as an example for our students to lead in their own spaces. We are equally honored to have a slate of strong Black women join us for our weekend ceremonies, including Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson, Atlanta community icon Rose Scott and the esteemed Reverend Dr. Yvette Flunder. We look forward to them inspiring our graduates, their families and the Spelman community.”
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