The society honors graduate and professional students who exemplify leadership, service and academic excellence.

Published 4/25/25
Story contact: Deidra Ashley, CVMMarCom@missouri.edu
Photos by Karen Clifford

Kate Czarny, a third-year student at the University of Missouri College of Veterinary Medicine (CVM), has been named a 2025 inductee into the Rollins Society — one of the university’s highest student honors.

Czarny’s selection recognizes her advocacy for concussion awareness and traumatic brain injury (TBI) prevention through her self-founded initiative, The Lasting Impact. After experiencing multiple concussions, Czarny transformed her personal health experience into a powerful mission to protect and educate others. She has delivered hands-on presentations in schools, civic organizations and retirement communities across Missouri, Illinois and Wisconsin, reaching audiences from kindergarteners to senior citizens.

“I am extremely honored to be accepted into The Rollins Society—it’s a privilege to be recognized among those who serve and lead beyond the classroom,” Czarny said. “I’m proud to be a Tiger because the University of Missouri has shaped me not only as a student, but as a leader, advocate, and future veterinarian. This is a place where tradition meets innovation, and I’m grateful to be part of a community that empowers others to make a lasting impact.”

Beyond her advocacy work, Czarny volunteers with community groups including Special Olympics Missouri, Toys for Tots, the Fisher House, and the Copper Basin 300 sled dog race. She is the past president of the CVM Women’s Veterinary Leadership Development Initiative and currently serves as Miss Mark Twain 2025, a representative title within the Miss Missouri Scholarship Organization.

Czarny was nominated by multiple faculty members and peers. Timothy Snider, DVM, PhD, DACVP, one of her nominators, praised her resilience and community-centered approach: “Kate’s ability to blend scholarship with impactful service makes her an ideal candidate for the Rollins Society — a sentiment shared not only by our faculty, but also by student leadership within the CVM, whose support adds further weight to her nomination.”