Ellie Pfahler, a student at Florida Atlantic University’s Harriet L. Wilkes Honors College, is the inaugural recipient of the Forum Club of the Palm Beaches’ Student Civic Engagement Award.

Ellie Pfahler, a student at Florida Atlantic University’s Harriet L. Wilkes Honors College, is the inaugural recipient of the Forum Club of the Palm Beaches’ Student Civic Engagement Award.

In partnership with the college, also celebrating its 25th anniversary, the Forum Club developed the pilot program to recognize students in the local community. To be considered, students must demonstrate a commitment to leadership and civil discourse and create environments where people from diverse backgrounds can come together and exchange ideas.

Pfahler, a senior at the Wilkes Honors College and due to graduate in May, is a dual-major in international studies and Spanish, with a minor in environmental science. She currently interns with El Sol, Jupiter’s Neighborhood Resource Center, where she helps with event coordination, teaches English classes and assists the executive director in writing the nonprofit’s annual report. She is also currently finalizing her last round of edits on her senior thesis, which studies the socioeconomic impact of climate migration in Guatemala’s dry corridor, and its impact on communities of origin, particularly indigenous communities.

“Receiving the Student Civic Engagement Award at the Forum Club was an incredibly humbling and inspiring experience,” said Pfahler. “Being recognized in a room filled with thoughtful leaders and change-makers only reaffirmed my commitment to community service and civic responsibility.”

Pfahler plans to work this upcoming year for a nonprofit in Gainesville before enrolling in UNC Chapel Hill’s public administration master’s program in fall 2026. Her dream is to work for a nonprofit, either on a local or global level, as she is passionate about community integration and empowerment in small cities and the global community.

“I am truly grateful to the Forum Club for this recognition, and for creating a space where students like me can feel seen, heard and empowered,” she said. “It is an honor to be part of a community that values service and uplifts the voices of young leaders striving to make a difference. I will forever hold this moment close to my heart, as I continue to strive to be a compassionate, generous leader.”

The award was given to Pfahler during the Forum Club’s recently monthly luncheon featuring keynote speaker Alejandro Mayorkas, former U.S. secretary of homeland security.

“We received an overwhelming number of qualified applicants, but Ellie Pfahler’s incredible academic excellence, philanthropic involvement and innovative approach to addressing challenges in her community set her apart from her peers,” said Sarah Criser Elwell, chief executive officer of the Forum Club. “Ellie’s recognition as the Forum Club’s inaugural Student Civic Engagement Award recipient will serve as an inspiration to students throughout our community, and we look forward to recognizing more students for their efforts in the years to come.”

The Forum Club of the Palm Beaches is Florida’s largest non-partisan political and public affairs organization. Since 1976, when former U.S. President Jimmy Carter served as its inaugural speaker, the Forum Club has hosted a majority of U.S. Supreme Court justices and a variety of thought leaders whose words and actions affect the world in which we live.

“The Harriet L. Wilkes Honors College is grateful to the Forum Club of the Palm Beaches for this recognition of Ellie’s academic excellence and commitment to service,” said Rachel Luria, Wilkes Honors College associate dean of student affairs and associate professor. “The Forum Club has introduced a whole new community to the work being done at the college and offers encouragement and inspiration for our students pursuing careers in law, politics or international studies. We look forward to continuing to work together to nurture the next generation of leaders.”

-FAU-