February 20, 2026 – The Hendrix College Alumni Association will honor four award
recipients at its annual awards brunch on Saturday, April 18, beginning at 10:30
a.m. in Worsham Student Performance Hall in the Student Life and Technology
Center.
This year’s honorees are Martha Dayer,
recipient of the James E. Major Service Award; Judge Cara Boyd Connors ’06,
recipient of the Distinguished Alumni Award; Torey Hayward ’12, recipient of
the Outstanding Young Alumni Award; and Ben Goodwin ’01, recipient of the
Hendrix College Humanitarian Award.
Martha Dayer – James E. Major Service
Award
Martha Dayer served Hendrix College through
Dining Services from 2000 to 2009, becoming a beloved and integral part of
campus life. Known for her warmth and genuine care for students, Dayer made it
a priority to learn names, attend campus events, and support students well
beyond the dining hall. In 2018, she received the “Indi” Award in recognition
of her lasting impact on the Hendrix community.
Beginning her tenure as a dishwasher in Hulen
Dining Hall, Dayer witnessed the College’s transition to the new Student Life
and Technology Center and fondly recalls themed dining days and Commencement
traditions as favorite memories. A native of San Antonio, Texas, she later made
her home in Arkansas with her husband, Johnny. Together they have two children,
three grandchildren, and one great-grandchild.
Honorable Cara Boyd Connors ’06 –
Distinguished Alumni Award
Judge Cara Boyd Connors ’06 is a circuit
court judge serving Perry and Pulaski counties. A Politics major at Hendrix,
she studied abroad at St. Peter’s College, Oxford, before earning her law
degree from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock William H. Bowen School
of Law.
Connors began her career in public service as
a hearing examiner and deputy prosecuting attorney before founding the Law
Offices of Boyd Connors, P.A., where she practiced criminal defense and civil
litigation across Arkansas. Elected to the bench in 2022, she presides over
civil, domestic, and probate matters. An active community leader, she serves on
several nonprofit and professional boards and has been recognized by multiple
statewide publications for her leadership and service. She and her husband, Gary,
have two daughters.
Torey Hayward ’12 – Outstanding Young
Alumni Award
Toriano A. “Torey” Hayward Jr. ’12 is an
award-winning educator, school leader, and theater director. A Theatre Arts
graduate of Hendrix, he also holds a Master of Science in Education from Johns
Hopkins University. Hayward has twice been named Teacher of the Year and has
received numerous honors recognizing excellence in teaching and leadership
development.
Hayward has served as a founding teacher and
assistant principal at innovative Louisiana charter schools and previously led
statewide initiatives to expand pathways into the teaching profession as
Director of Teacher Leadership Development for the Louisiana Department of
Education. Currently, he serves as principal of Young Audiences Charter High
School, where the school has earned recognition for high graduation rates and
academic achievement among economically disadvantaged students. In addition to
his work in education, Hayward is an accomplished theater director and award
recipient in the New Orleans arts community.
Ben Goodwin ’01 – Hendrix College
Humanitarian Award
Ben Goodwin ’01 has served in leadership
roles at Our House since 2009 and has been executive director since 2017. Under
his leadership, the organization has expanded significantly in reach and
impact, now serving more than 3,000 individuals annually and earning national
recognition for comprehensive services supporting families experiencing
homelessness.
A Mathematics graduate of Hendrix, Goodwin
also earned a degree in Politics, Philosophy, and Economics from Oxford
University as a Rhodes Scholar. He remains deeply committed to community
service and nonprofit leadership in Arkansas. He and his wife, Elizabeth
Alexander ’03, have two children.
About
Hendrix College
Founded in 1876, Hendrix College is
featured in Colleges That Change Lives: 45 Schools That Will Change the Way You
Think About Colleges and celebrated among the country’s leading liberal arts
colleges for academic quality, engaged learning opportunities and career
preparation, vibrant campus life, and value. The Hendrix College Warriors
compete in 21 NCAA Division III sports. Hendrix has been affiliated with the
United Methodist Church since 1884. Learn more at www.hendrix.edu.
“… Through engagement that links the
classroom with the world, and a commitment to diversity, inclusion, justice,
and sustainable living, the Hendrix community inspires students to lead lives
of accomplishment, integrity, service, and joy.” –Hendrix College Statement of
Purpose