Pre-vet student’s path shaped by honors program

A rare KU pre-veterinary major, Cecilia Jakubauskas looked to service learning for experience-building opportunities. In the process, she developed a framework for ethical service that guided her involvement.

Through Alternative Breaks, Jakubauskas volunteered at Mission: Wolf, a sanctuary for captive-born wolves and horses, and Arkansas’ Turpentine Creek Wildlife Refuge for big cats. After nearly a year of participation in Alternative Breaks, she successfully applied for their managing director position. 

It was a role Jakubauskas was prepared for thanks in part to her experience as an honors seminar assistant, in which Jakubauskas collaborated with a faculty member, led group discussions, and grew as a communicator and mentor.

The following semester, an Honors Opportunity Award (HOA) funded her internship with Monarch Watch, where she saw conservation’s impact on local ecosystems. Jakubauskas also received HOA funding for a South African veterinary expedition, “a great opportunity for her,” said program director Dr. Sarah Crawford-Parker, who asked Jakubauskas to return with feedback.

“If she had a successful experience, there might be students in the future that could benefit,” Crawford-Parker said.

Jakubauskas’ goal now and as a professional is to lead from an ethical foundation that considers the needs and dignity of those she serves — including wildlife.

“I see a need to create more of a compassionate idea around animals, rather than just seeing them as a commodity,” she said. •