JONESBORO — Four Arkansas State University graduates have been selected as recipients of the Emerging Young Alumni Award for 2026, the A-State Alumni Association and Student Philanthropy Council announced. This marks the program’s eighth year of recognizing exceptional young graduates for their professional success, leadership, service, and philanthropy.
The honorees, chosen for their significant contributions to Arkansas State, their professions, and their communities, will be recognized during a luncheon on Thursday, Oct. 8, at 11:30 a.m. at the Cooper Alumni Center, 2600 Alumni Blvd. Attendees must RSVP by Oct. 1 at AStateAlumni.org/EYA26.
Among this year’s recipients is Dr. Katherine Benefield, who earned her bachelor’s degree from A-State in 2014 and her Doctor of Medicine degree with honors from the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences in 2018. Following her academic training, she completed a family medicine residency and a sports medicine fellowship at the University of Alabama, where she served as chief resident and later became the university’s first director of women’s sports medicine. Benefield now practices at Jonesboro Orthopedics & Sports Medicine, serves as a team physician for A-State and local high schools, and remains dedicated to improving athlete health and safety.
Holly Huffstetler, a 2012 graduate with a Bachelor of Science in health promotion, has focused her career on nonprofit leadership and community engagement. As the marketing, fundraising, and grants coordinator for TLC – The Learning Center in Northeast Arkansas, Huffstetler leads initiatives supporting adults with developmental disabilities. She has been recognized as the 2025 Goodwill Ambassador of the Year by the Jonesboro Regional Chamber of Commerce and serves as chair of the chamber’s A-State Committee. Her extensive volunteer work underscores her ongoing commitment to community involvement in the region.
Hunter Morris, a Sherwood native, graduated from A-State in 2018 with a Bachelor of Science in strategic communication before earning dual master’s degrees in public service and public health. He now serves as associate director of donor experience at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, where he has helped generate more than $7 million in philanthropic revenue. Morris’s contributions to public health and donor engagement have earned him several accolades, and he remains an active supporter of A-State as a life member of the Alumni Association.
Rounding out the list of honorees is Andrew Mullinax, who earned a Bachelor of Science in agricultural business in 2019 and an MBA in 2024 from A-State. A native of the Arkansas Delta, Mullinax works as the state agriculture liaison and Northeast Arkansas field representative for U.S. Sen. John Boozman, where he advocates for the agricultural industry and assists constituents. His efforts have strengthened relationships among farmers, community leaders, and federal agencies across the region.
The Emerging Young Alumni Award continues to highlight the accomplishments of Arkansas State graduates who are making meaningful impacts both locally and beyond.