4 Tars Named Phoenix Ginsburg Fellows

As 2026-27 Phoenix Ginsburg Fellows, Ella Afrifa ’28, Sara Gennevee Alvarez ’27, Aimal Irteza ’27, and Angelica Zabbara ’28 join a scholarship and mentoring program that supports students committed to advancing social justice and making a positive difference in their communities.

Established by prolific real estate developer, entrepreneur, and Rollins Trustee Alan Ginsburg, the Ginsburg Family Foundation is led by the team behind The Central Florida Pledge. This community-wide call to action encourages courage, conversation, and collaboration while creating opportunities for young people to rise together. Building on that same spirit, the foundation's Phoenix Ginsburg Fellows program equips the next generation of leaders to create meaningful, lasting change through civic engagement, community organizing, and positive activism.

The fellowship program serves as a youth leadership incubator, bringing together student leaders from across Central Florida to learn, connect, innovate, and take action to strengthen their communities and deepen collective understanding. Selected fellows receive $2,000 toward educational costs, financial support for campus and community initiatives, and access to mentorship, leadership development, and networking opportunities. Through monthly virtual cohort meetings and in-person training sessions, fellows gain the resources, knowledge, and support to turn their passion for social justice into meaningful community impact and help build a more connected society.

This year, the Phoenix Ginsburg Fellows Program selected 43 high school and college students from across Central Florida, including just 27 undergraduate students, among them Ella Afrifa ’28, Sara Gennevee Alvarez ’27, Aimal Irteza ’27, and Angelica Zabbara ’28.

Ella Afrifa ’28

Majors: International relations and computer science

At Rollins, Ella Afrifa ’28 channels her passion for social justice into advocacy and civil dialogue. A founding member of the Abolition Advocacy Project, she has organized educational events and letter-writing campaigns in support of incarcerated individuals. She also helped establish the College’s first Mock Trial Club and introduce moot court opportunities through the Debate and Speech Society. An award-winning debater active in Model United Nations, Afrifa spent this past summer interning with Neutral Zone, a youth-driven community organization in Michigan. She hopes to attend law school and pursue a career in international law and policy, particularly on issues emerging in the digital age.

How Rollins prepared her: “The small, intimate classes and discussion-heavy courses give me room to share my opinions, hear different perspectives, and reflect on or revise my beliefs. Classes in ethics, data analytics, peace and conflict studies, and discrete mathematics have strengthened my ability to evaluate information and reason through problems. I find myself applying those skills outside the classroom, especially in advocacy and debate.”

Who shaped her journey: “If I tried to name everyone who has helped me, I would run out of ink! My advisor, political science professor Dan Chong, and my debate coach, communication professor David Painter, have been such important mentors in my academic development and advocacy. And Denisa Metko, director of the Center for Career & Life Planning, has also been a constant source of encouragement. Having someone recognize your potential and challenge you to act on it makes a tremendous difference.”

“I believe meaningful change begins with … taking responsibility for what I can do and recognizing that every other person is capable of creating change too. My dream is to become a strong advocate and bridge builder, and this experience gives me an opportunity to practice those responsibilities now.”

Sara Gennevee Alvarez ’27

Major: Communication studies

Returning Phoenix Ginsburg Fellow Sara Gennevee Alvarez ’27 has discovered a passion for using storytelling to drive social change. Through the course Advocating for Change, she learned to develop practical solutions to social problems, while communication coursework and two editing internships have helped her hone her video production skills. She has also written, directed, and produced a short film, assembling a 14-person crew and overseeing post-production. Alvarez hopes to create short videos and documentaries that amplify community voices, bridge differences, and inspire action.

How Rollins prepared her: “Rollins has given me so many opportunities to grow, both academically and personally. Through the communication major, I've learned about storytelling structure and how important it is to be intentional with the time and space you have. One of the most meaningful experiences for me was communication professor Rick Bommelje’s Listening and Leadership course, in which we created our own adaptive challenges. I feel more prepared to pursue a career, but I also feel wiser and have more confidence in myself, a better understanding of how I want to show up for others, and a stronger sense of responsibility for what I create and share.”

Who shaped her journey: “Adjunct professor Jennie Jarvis has had a huge impact on me. She has challenged me to think more deeply about how stories are created and how they connect with an audience. In one of her courses, I created a short film, which gave me a full-on experience in writing, directing, and producing. She helped me see filmmaking as something I want to continue pursuing.”

“I believe meaningful change begins when … you decide to be part of it. I’ve also learned that meaningful change begins with listening to perspectives different from your own. Through the Ginsburg Fellowship, I realized that discomfort is a part of learning, and understanding someone else’s experience requires being willing to pause, listen, and consider what you might not have understood before.”

Aimal Irteza ’27

Majors: Political science and public policy & political economy

Aimal Irteza ’27 is turning her passion for civic engagement into a path toward a career in health policy. Through Rollins’ Democracy Project, an internship with AdventHealth’s public policy team, and work with Florida Rep. Anna Eskamani’s legislative office and mayoral campaign, she has gained firsthand experience in how government decisions affect communities. Irteza plans to attend law school and pursue a career in Florida health policy, focusing on removing barriers that prevent eligible residents from accessing assistance programs like Medicaid and SNAP.

How Rollins prepared her: “My liberal arts education has given me a multidimensional, holistic perspective: thinking critically about the different stakeholders on every side of a policy issue and engaging with them to incorporate solutions. This year, I started working with political science professor Tahmina Rahman on a paper about South Asian voters in Orlando, which is another great example of how I’m turning classroom learning into on-the-ground understanding of how communities engage with the political process.”

Who shaped her journey: “Political science professor and my advisor Dan Chong has been instrumental in my development as a civic leader. His International Human Rights class taught me not only how to think about activism but also how to tailor information to specific audiences. Another important mentor has been my supervisor Victoria Teske in the Center for Leadership & Community Engagement. Her support and encouragement to think creatively have helped me engage the campus community and form partnerships with other organizations.”

“I believe meaningful change begins with … informed participation: putting information in people’s hands, whether it’s a polling location or a legislator’s contact information, so that their everyday concerns can become actionable policy.”

Angelica Zabbara ’28

Majors: Political science and international relations

Angelica Zabbara ’28 is committed to fostering civic engagement and promoting equal footing across diverse communities through service and collaboration, serving as chief justice of Rollins’ Student Government Association (SGA), a member of Model United Nations, and a campaign fellow for Florida Rep. Anna Eskamani. As a Democracy Project ambassador, she encourages meaningful dialogue and active participation in democratic processes on campus. Through her leadership and focus on ethical engagement, she works to amplify student voices and strengthen a more inclusive and engaged campus community.