08/21/2025
Amazing job Casper (NCHS Class of 2025)!
A personal tragedy set Casper Safranski on a mission to advocate for others.
As a middle schooler, Safranski lost his best friend to Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma (DIPG), a very aggressive brain cancer that primarily affects children and is, unfortunately, incurable. After his friend passed, Safranski began looking for ways to raise awareness for DIPG, as well as other pediatric cancers. He found a partner in the Super Sam Foundation (Super Sam Foundation: Fighting Childhood Cancer), which supports families fighting pediatric cancer. Safranski also met with Missouri legislators to discuss funding opportunities for cancer research.
Safranski plans to pursue genetic research when he begins his collegiate journey at this fall. Those efforts will be supported by the Stamps Scholarship (Stamps Scholars). Safranski, who will be a biochemistry major, is one of seven incoming Tigers who earned the Stamps Scholarship.
Safranski has several ties to Mizzou. He attended the Missouri Scholars Academy, and both of his parents are faculty in the Mizzou College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources.
“I’m really excited to be a Tiger. It’s awesome to be part of the Mizzou Stamps Scholars cohort, too, and have a group of peers who are pushing you to accomplish your goals.”
Read more: https://honors.missouri.edu/news/2025/08/excited-to-be-a-tiger/
