Honoring Service and Leadership
The Daughters of Berry gathered for the Founder's Legacy Dinner on February 19, 2026 to celebrate four exceptional members of the Berry College Class of 2026 as recipients of the annual Legacy Awards. The awards recognize students who exemplify leadership, character, and a steadfast commitment to service, values that reflect the vision of Berry College founder Martha Berry.
Each recipient was nominated by the dean of her respective school andor her major professors. During the ceremony, the honorees reflected on their Berry experience through the lens of Martha Berry's enduring motto, "Not to be ministered unto, but to minister."
Celebrating the 2026 Legacy Award Recipients
Ms. Susie Peters of the Campbell School of Business is an economics and international business major from Tifton, Georgia. Throughout her time at Berry College, Peters has demonstrated meaningful leadership and engagement across campus. She has been actively involved in the Berry College Honors Program, College Church, Campbell Ambassadors, Orgullo, the Office of Admissions Marketing Team, and the Berry Wind Ensemble. Her broad involvement reflects a deep commitment to both service and community.
Ms. Miriam Miller Hughes, representing the Charter School of Education and Human Sciences, is a nursing major from Greenville, South Carolina. Miller Hughes has distinguished herself through leadership and initiative, founding Partners in Health Engage and co-founding Nurses with Nyogaya. She has served as a Nursing Ambassador, a One Health Center Lead Student Organizer, and participated in a volunteer research internship with Socios En Salud in Peru. Her work demonstrates a strong dedication to global health and service.
Ms. Hannah McDaniel, representing the Evans School of Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences, is a history major from Dublin, Georgia. McDaniel has built an impressive record of scholarship and public service. She is a member of the Berry College Honors Program, served as Student Government Association senior class secretary, and participated in the Year of Service program. A Lettie Pate Whitehead Scholar, she also served as a 2025 Senate Aide Intern and currently works as a legislative assistant with the Georgia State Senate.
Ms. Chaya Jones, representing the School of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, is a creative technologies major recognized for innovation and academic excellence. Jones has served as student lab director at HackBerry Lab, is a Lettie Pate Whitehead Scholar, and completed a 2025 robotics summer internship with Universal Creative. Her accomplishments highlight the creative and forward-thinking spirit fostered at Berry College.
A Legacy Continued
The evening celebrated not only individual achievement but also the enduring mission that connects generations of Berry students. Each Legacy Award recipient embodies the college's guiding principle of service and leadership, demonstrating how Martha Berry's vision continues to shape students' lives and aspirations.
The program concluded with an address from Berry College President Dr. Sandeep Mazumder, titled "Sharing a Legacy Worthy of Our Founder." His remarks emphasized the importance of carrying forward Berry's tradition of service while embracing new opportunities for growth and impact.
As the Daughters of Berry honored these remarkable students, the evening served as a reminder that Berry's legacy lives on through its graduates. With commencement approaching in May, the Class of 2026 Legacy Award recipients prepare to begin their next chapters, carrying Berry's values with them as they move forward into lives of purpose, leadership, and service.
