Hendrix-Murphy Foundation

08/07/2026

Congratulations to Murphy Scholar Shayla Freeman ('29) on "What the Colonel Left Behind," her newest piece in the Oxford American! Give it a read and join us in celebrating her work. 🎉

07/30/2026

With heavy hearts, we share that Henryetta Vanaman, known to many in our community as "Hank," has passed away. Henryetta spent 19 years with the Hendrix-Murphy Foundation, joining in 2002 and stepping into retirement in 2021. During her time at Hendrix-Murphy, she was the steady hand behind visits from writers, scholars, and theatre professionals, hosted more receptions and gatherings than anyone could count, and helped train the student workers who passed through our doors. Her care for this place, and for the people in it, shaped the Foundation in ways we still feel today.

We're thinking of her family, including her recently deceased husband, James "Jim" Douglas Vanaman, and children, James Douglas "Doug" Vanaman Jr. and Amanda Elizabeth, as well as granddaughter Abbigale "Abbi" Elizabeth Vanaman, as they navigate this loss. A visitation will be held Thursday, July 30, from 5:00 to 7:00 pm at Wilcox Family Funeral Home in Greenbrier.

07/09/2026

We're delighted to see Hendrix College and English at Hendrix alum Bryan Borland '01 bringing back Sibling Rivalry Press after a four-year hiatus! 🎉

After a four year hiatus, Sibling Rivalry Press is back with a renewed focus on Arkansas’ q***r poetry scene.

06/10/2026

We love seeing our students out in the world, soaking up history and culture in Tours, France!

05/21/2026

Snaps for Dr. Ellie Black ’18! 🫰🎉

Congratulations to Dr. Ellie Black ’18 on being named the winner of the 2026 American Poetry Review (APR) / Honickman First Book Prize for her debut collection, “Revelator.”

Currently visiting assistant professor of English – creative writing at Hendrix, Dr. Black will receive a $3,000 cash prize and a publishing contract with Copper Canyon Press. “Revelator” will be published and distributed nationally in September through Consortium and is now available for pre-sale at national book retailers.

She will be launching a book tour in the coming months. We will share more details as we get closer to the dates. We are excited to celebrate this incredible achievement! Congratulations, Dr. Black!

https://www.hendrix.edu/Ellie-Black-18-named-winner-of-Honickman-First-Book-Prize/

05/18/2026

“Never say goodbye because goodbye means going away and going away means forgetting.” ― J.M. Barrie, Peter Pan

We'll never forget our student workers who graduated on Saturday: Adilynn Henry, B.A. Health Sciences; Alaina May, B.A. English-Film & Media Studies; and Adain Wilson, B.A. English-Creative Writing. All our congrats and best wishes for this exciting new chapter! 🎓🧡

05/13/2026

"Life is made of ever so many partings welded together." — Charles Dickens, Great Expectations

We bade 31 senior Murphy Scholars a fond farewell on April 30 at our annual Farewell Fest. Graduating senior Scholars received a medal with the Murphy Scholar insignia, presented by Hendrix-Murphy Foundation Director Ty Jaeger, which the Scholars will wear with their regalia at commencement. A full event album can be viewed here: flickr.com/photos/hendrixcollege/albums/72177720333608160/

05/08/2026

So very proud of Hendrix College and English at Hendrix alum JC Andrews ’20 for winning the 2026 Yale Younger Poets Award, America's longest running poetry prize!

A “fearless, radiant collection” earns top honors.

Poet JC Andrews has won the 2026 Yale Younger Poets Award, America’s longest-running poetry prize. Her debut manuscript "Of an Ilk," praised for “opening up new spaces for love and survival,” will be published by Yale University Press.

Established in 1919, the award has introduced generations of emerging poets and continues to spotlight new voices in contemporary poetry.

Learn more about Andrews, her work, and the Yale Younger Poets Award: bit.ly/4exR81q

05/05/2026

We're still so excited about our new cohort of Murphy Scholars that were inducted on March 31!

Full event photo album: flickr.com/photos/hendrixcollege/albums/72177720333421239

News story: hendrix.edu/New-Cohort-of-Murphy-Scholars-inducted-at-Hendrix-College/

05/04/2026

We're so proud of our Murphy Scholars who were inducted into Phi Beta Kappa!
Adam Andrews
Campbell Christensen
Gillian Fast
Michelle Leyva
Satya McCarthy-Rotella
Charlotte Miller
Alaina Palmer
Sandra Ramirez
Eden Robbins
Julie Schwartz
Demah Yousef

Congrats to our PBK initiates! 👏

The newest members of Phi Beta Kappa have been inducted for their exceptional academic achievement in the liberal arts and sciences.

Join us in celebrating the 2026 initiates ⬇️
🔗 https://ow.ly/mXym50YSZh0