Jonesboro had plenty of reasons to celebrate this week, as two uplifting events put the city and Arkansas State University in the spotlight for all the right reasons.

Students, community leaders, and organizational partners came together in Jonesboro for the 2026 Arkansas College Hunger Summit, a collaborative event focused on fighting food insecurity across the state. The summit brought together a diverse group of participants united around a common cause — ensuring that college students and community members have access to the food they need. Events like this highlight the power of partnership between higher education, local leaders, and nonprofits to tackle real challenges facing Arkansas families.

Also making headlines this week, Paisley Rea was crowned the 2027 Miss Arkansas State University. The pageant, held on the Arkansas State University campus in Jonesboro, celebrated student achievement, poise, and community engagement. Rea’s crowning marks an exciting new chapter for her and for the university community that rallied around the event.

Together, these two moments reflect what makes Jonesboro such a vibrant place — a community willing to roll up its sleeves to fight hunger and equally ready to cheer on its students as they step into the spotlight. Whether gathered around a summit table or a pageant stage, Jonesboro continues to show that its people are its greatest strength.

Sources: Jonesboro Right Now, Jonesboro Right Now