Moments That Mattered

From the opening of the new Tennis & Golf Center to celebrating another unforgettable Fox Day, 2025-26 was a year full of memorable moments at Rollins. Our students made the most of their liberal arts education through immersive service experiences, original research, creative scholarship, and hands-on learning—from restoring ecosystems in the Everglades to bringing forgotten Rollins history to the stage. This collection of photos captures just a few of our favorite people, places, and experiences that made this past year at Rollins one to remember.

Facilitated by the Center for Leadership & Community Engagement, the College’s 20th annual SPARC Day continued the tradition of service for all incoming first-year and transfer students. More than 800 students, faculty, and staff provided service to over 30 local nonprofits and community organizations, including Second Harvest Food Bank, the Ronald McDonald House, New Hope for Kids, and many more.

Guided by theatre professor Marianne DiQuattro, Conner Chaumley ’26, Yasmine Hudson ’27, and Max Payton ’27 spent a year immersed in archival research, fieldwork, and collaborative playwriting to create Let the People Sing, an original documentary drama inspired by Zora Neale Hurston’s 1933 musical revue From Sun to Sun and her anthropological work in Central Florida.

Our alumni are defining what’s next for the theme-park entertainment industry that fuels Central Florida and delights the world, including SeaWorld senior aquarist Celena Diaz ’18, who says, “Rollins gave me the foundation of challenging myself and not giving up on my dreams. That push was exactly what I needed. I can’t imagine doing anything else.”

On October 23, the Rollins community gathered to celebrate the official opening of the new Tennis & Golf Center, a cutting-edge facility that elevates the student-athlete experience and honors the College’s legacy of athletic excellence.

Reflecting Rollins’ commitment to excellence both in the classroom and in competition, the men’s soccer team defeated Mississippi College 5-1 in the NCAA Division II National Quarterfinals, ultimately earning a spot in the National Championship.

During an Immersion experience in Biscayne Bay and Everglades National Park, Rollins students worked alongside National Park Service staff to restore natural spaces, removing debris from island shorelines, maintaining park trails, and learning firsthand about the environmental stewardship required to protect one of the country’s most unique ecosystems.

Part of a vibrant Greek life community that includes 12 organizations, Bid Day marked the beginning of a new chapter for Rollins students looking to build lifelong friendships, develop leadership skills, and find a strong sense of belonging.

Computer science major Xandria Bramble ’25 ’26MBA shares how the 3/2 Accelerated Management Program (AMP) helped her build a venture and compete on a national stage, ultimately earning the 2025 NASA Patent Remix Challenge’s grand prize alongside her Crummer Graduate School of Business teammates.

On March 2, the Rollins chapter of Phi Beta Kappa—known as the Theta Chapter of Florida—inducted its fifth class of members, including theatre and anthropology double major Alessia Francesca Prenda ’26. The distinction reflects Rollins’ place among the nation’s most prestigious institutions of higher education: Only one-half of 1 percent of Americans with college degrees are members of Phi Beta Kappa.

Biology and environmental studies double major Makenna Morrison Gary ’26 spent time researching the invasive Asian swamp eel in Central Florida and on Lake Virginia, specifically focusing on developing effective trapping methods while examining the live-food markets and religious release practices contributing to its spread. Gary earned a 2026–27 Fulbright Study/Research Award to study biodiversity at National Taiwan University.

Mathematics professor Zeynep Teymuroglu led a team of students—Ava Kopchak ’26, Christian Fontanez ’27, Manuel Alvarez Abreu ’29, and Mei Bao-He ’26—to model the most efficient deployment for United Against Poverty Orlando’s mobile prosperity program.

One of Rollins’ many living-learning communities, Ward Hall reflects the College’s approach to residential living, with spaces designed to foster community, independent living, and academic success. Our residence halls extend learning beyond the classroom, giving students places to build friendships, connect with mentors, develop life and leadership skills, and find entry points into the organizations, activities, and experiences that shape their Rollins life.

In the early hours of Wednesday, April 15, the Fox made his long-awaited return to Tars Plaza, ushering in that singular spring day when classes pause and the campus spills outdoors for a sun-soaked celebration.

Fueled by electric school spirit and show-stopping performances, the highly anticipated Lip Sync event set Mills Lawn aglow as student organizations delivered a night of high-energy dance, music, and crowd-pleasing routines, culminating in Kappa Delta rising above dozens of competitors to claim the top spot.

On the eve of finals, students once again flocked to Skillman Dining Hall for Late-Night Breakfast—a beloved yearly event where faculty, staff, and even the president serve up breakfast favorites like pancakes, omelets, and biscuits and gravy.

On May 10, graduates of the College of Liberal Arts carried forward a cherished Rollins tradition, crossing the commencement stage on Mother’s Day to celebrate their accomplishments and embrace a promising future.

Alongside artist-in-residence and costume shop manager Allison Crutchfield, theatre arts major Alex Collins ’29 spent the summer researching and recreating two costumes worn by actress Annie Russell, whose enduring legacy at Rollins includes teaching, performing in campus productions, and directing in the eponymous theatre until her death in 1936.

This summer, biochemistry and molecular biology major Sylvie Reveley ’28 partnered with biology professor Paul Stephenson through Rollins’ Collaborative Research Fellowship Program to investigate whether certain Florida plant species possess antimicrobial properties that could inform future medical treatments.