Gavin Cotter
A broad smile stretched across senior Gavin Cotter’s face as he reminisced about his favorite class, Robotics, with Science Instructor Bradford Robinson. For one of the course’s projects, he built a robot and pitted it against his classmates’ creations. At the end of many battles, his robot was the only one left standing.
Similar to the stalwart robot that he built, some of Cotter’s most evident characteristics are his tenacity and perseverance.These qualities helped Cotter endure his battle against cancer during his seventh grade. Despite this hardship, his experience with the disease has since informed his passion for cancer research at Exeter. “My medical history affected what I study,” he said. “I think that might partly be because of that because I'm very interested in learning more about why I got cancer, how things occur.”
Cotter’s dorm mate, senior Makinrola Orafidiya described his resilience in all areas of life. “He's been through a lot, but he doesn't ever let that hinder him,” Orafidiya said. “Despite the troubles he's had, he's always had a very positive outlook on life and [makes] sure everyone feels happy.”
This resilience is evident in Cotter’s academic prowess. A persistent and hardworking student, he was one of this fall’s 15 early inductees into the Class of 2019 Cum Laude Society.
Science Instructor Frances Johnson, who taught Cotter in a physics class during his lower year, described his presence in the classroom. “He is an excellent analytical thinker [and] very interested in ideas for their own sake. Often in class I would see his eyes light up as he thought through the implications of the physics we were playing with,” she said. “He is always willing to reconsider his own ideas if someone brings up a salient physics point, the sign of the true scientist.”
While Cotter is a notable scholar, he also extends his influence to a variety of campus clubs. He serves as a co-head of Exeter’s Robotics Club, which has increased his appreciation for the bottom-up process of creation. “The ability to create something is fascinating to me,” he said. “I’ve found that I have a love for building.”
Senior Jaime Romero, who leads the Robotics Club alongside Cotter, says that Cotter helps club members realize their full potential. “What makes Gavin a good leader is that he is a very compassionate soul who pushes people to be their best self,” Romero said.
Aside from his STEM-related commitments, Cotter has been involved with Catholic Exonians since the start of prep year––the spiritual foundation to counter the hustle of his Exeter life. “I've been a good Catholic and gone to church every Sunday for the past four years,” he said. “I feel like Church has instilled good morals in me.”
Cotter embodies these values through his work with Exeter’s social service clubs. He organized and spoke at last year’s Relay for Life, a community-based fundraising event for cancer research. “I think his work with Relay for Life has had a big impact. He shares his own story of surviving cancer with others and has been inspirational to many,” said English Instructor Alex Myers, who is Cotter’s advisor.
In addition to Relay for Life, Cotter plays an important role in the lives of his fellow students as a proctor and student listener in his dormitory, Webster Hall. “My experience with Webster has been the best,” Cotter said. “Everyone in there always has super, super awesome advice, especially the students and faculty.”
Myers described Cotter’s reputation in the dorm as “good-natured, patient and helpful.” “He loves to answer questions and explain things, and so is wonderful with new students, who pepper him with questions ranging from homework problems to how to work the laundry machines,” Myers said.
Senior Yaseen Ahmed, another Webster Hall proctor, attested to Cotter’s caring and supportive nature. “He tries to share with underclassmen the good habits he practices,” Ahmed said. “As a friend, he’s always willing to motivate me and give me pep talks when I am stressed. He is really someone to look up to.”
Biology Instructor Townley Chisholm, who is affiliated with Webster, detailed his role on the proctor team. “He serves the Webster dorm community as one of the two fourth-floor proctors (up there in the land of the lowers) doing his best to set a good example for the younger students and to encourage them to go to bed and get enough sleep,” Chisholm said.
Now that he is a senior, his dormitory faculty note how he has thrived at Exeter. “He is much more confident and vocal,” Myers said. “He speaks up and voices his opinion.”
Chisholm added that “Gavin is older and wiser.”
Reflecting on his past four years, Cotter again identified the one principle that has dictated his actions since middle school. “Never give up,” he said. “One has to know that if there's a challenge, you just have to go through it.”