Zach Dollar ’27: Curiosity in Action

At first glance, Zach Dollar ’27 might seem like many other high school juniors—thoughtful, inquisitive, and busy juggling schoolwork with extracurriculars. But spend a little time with him, and it becomes clear that Zach is anything but ordinary. A three-sport athlete, scientist, philanthropist, and aspiring EMT, Zach embodies the spirit of curiosity and service that defines a true Renaissance man.

Ask Zach about his passions, and his answer is refreshingly specific. “Fish,” he says. Not fishing, but fish. For several years, Zach has taught himself about the world of aquariums, learning how to build, maintain, and service complex freshwater systems. At home, he cares for scores of tropical fish, cultivating both a vast knowledge of aquatic species and the discipline required to care for them.

His passion for aquatic life is connected to another defining influence in Zach’s life: Madagascar. Since the age of four, Zach has frequently traveled there with his father, a wildlife biologist at Catawba College who focuses his research on the fosa, Madagascar’s largest carnivore. Over the years, Zach often accompanied his father into the field, observing firsthand what scientific research looks like beyond textbooks and classrooms.

Inspired by those experiences, Zach decided to pursue a research project of his own that merged his interest in fish and his familiarity with Madagascar. He set his sights on studying native freshwater fish and their habitats in southern Madagascar, a region where little formal research has been conducted since the 1990s.

To prepare, Zach dual-enrolled at Catawba College during the summer after his freshman year, taking online college-level coursework as a sophomore. That same winter, he applied to present his work at the International Congress for Conservation Biology, a global scientific conference held in Australia. He was accepted, and in 2025, Zach traveled to Australia to present a research poster, becoming the youngest presenter at the conference.

Following the conference, Zach took the next major step: leading his own research expedition to Madagascar. Accompanied by his father as an advisor and a Catawba College student collaborator, Zach spent three weeks conducting field research on freshwater fish in southern Madagascar, studying species distribution and range extension.

What they found was remarkable. “We found a lot of species that weren’t there in the 1990s,” Zach explains, including several invasive species such as redbreast tilapia. One of the most memorable moments came when Zach identified a fish species that had only been documented a handful of times. “It was pure shock,” he recalls. “This was new science.” Since returning, he has presented his findings at a research conference at Elon University and is currently working on a paper he hopes to publish later this year.

Zach’s experiences in Madagascar have shaped not only his academic interests, but also his sense of responsibility to others. On a trip to the northern region of the country, he witnessed a tragedy that left a lasting impression: a young boy in a small village had died of malaria because his family could not afford medication that cost roughly two dollars. In response, Zach partnered with an on-the-ground organization to establish a medical fund that helps cover the cost of life-saving treatments in rural communities. To support the fund, Zach uses earnings from his work as a Pokémon card vendor, with hopes of eventually turning the initiative into a formal nonprofit.

Closer to home, Zach continues to expand his horizons. During his junior year, he is volunteering in the field with a team of collaborators, including scientists, the North Carolina Department of Agriculture, and the North Carolina Resources Commission, where he plays a role to help prevent disease threat from invasive species to domestic animals.

Asked what comes next, Zach doesn’t hesitate, but his answer does surprise. A return to Madagascar remains a possibility, but he is currently considering a different path this summer: earning his EMT certification. It is a pivot that feels on brand: seeking out new challenges, building practical skills, and finding meaningful ways to apply science in the real world.