UNC Pembroke sophomore Magally Ortiz-Rojas has been selected for outstanding leadership and service by North Carolina Campus Engagement, a statewide network of colleges and universities committed to preparing students for civic and social responsibility.

Ortiz-Rojas is a recipient of the network’s Community Impact Student Award (CISA), which honors one student leader at each member school. CISA recognizes students with a deep commitment to community involvement and the ability to inspire peers. NC Campus Engagement honored the recipients during a virtual awards ceremony on November 18.

The ceremony can be viewed here.  

Ortiz-Rojas is studying political science with a concentration in public policy and administration and sociology and is co-manager of the CARE Resource Center, UNCP's food pantry. She is passionate about students being informed of resources available and is committed to ensuring the resources remain available through soliciting donations of items and money. She led a donation drive with the Student Government Association to provide patrons with hygiene items. She has also taken on a new project to innovate the CARE Resource Center's "Sponsor-a-Shelf" initiative to involve student organizations and community partners to contribute to students receiving essentials.

Ortiz-Rojas was a student leader for Hawk Camp, a retreat for first-year students focused on servant leadership and learning about different social justice themes. At the retreat, she led the group in several activities and conversations that challenged the students to think about how they could collaborate, serve, and advocate. She inspired four campers to begin volunteering in the CARE Resource Center and mentoring with the Braves Foundation program.

Ortiz-Rojas serves as the University and Community Relations Chair, where she uses her voice to serve and educate the students to create positive change through policy and programming. During the summer of 2022, she completed an internship through the State Employee Credit Union Fellowship program. She interned with the Robeson County District Attorney's Office, conducting court observations and supporting the assistant district attorneys and the victim and witness legal assistants.