By Jack Barnes

Imagine sitting in class, last period on a Friday, getting ready to go catch passes from future Super Bowl-winning quarterback Russell Wilson (‘07) in an attempt to win your football game. During each fall of Cole Hawthorne’s (‘07) high school athletic career, this is what he did. Hawthorne was one of the top wide receivers Wilson played with in high school. Hawthorne also had successful high school careers on the basketball court and on the lacrosse field. Outside of athletics, Hawthorne was a successful student in the classroom and a second-generation Cougar.

Pictured: Russell Wilson (’07), Coach Alex Peavey, Cole Hawthorne (’07). Photo courtesy of Cole Hawthorne.

Hawthorne began his time at Collegiate in 5th Grade, and while it took him a minute to find his people, he quickly became friends with Wilson, the future NFL superstar. Hawthorne said “every time [Wilson] would walk into our house, it was like he was my parents’ fourth kid. He was always welcomed and was a great friend and helped me become the person I am today.” Hawthorne looks back on his time on the North Mooreland campus by saying, “[Collegiate] taught us a lot of stuff you don’t realize at the time… How to treat people, how to talk to adults, and the work ethic. It was cool to make good grades and be good at sports. It was a great place, and the values they instill in students can be used forever.”

Hawthorne’s time at Collegiate was consumed by being a three-sport athlete in football, basketball, and lacrosse. Hawthorne earned 1st Team All-State honors in football and basketball his senior year, and 2nd Team All-State honors in lacrosse. Hawthorne continued playing lacrosse at Hampden-Sydney College.

Hawthorne with Hampden-Syndey lacrosse in 2011. Photo credit: HSCAthletics.

Hawthorne stated that one of his inspirations on and off the field or court was former Collegiate Upper School counselor and coach Alex Peavey. “He was my basketball coach but is really now just a good friend. I think how we practiced in basketball was a microcosm for everything I have done going forward: put in your best effort, and you can go to bed peacefully.” He continued by saying, “he still inspires me today to do the same thing. Whether it’s in work, life, or relationships, put in the best you can and get what you can out of it.” Hawthorne mentioned other teachers, such as “Mr. Fleming, Mr. Justice, Bubba Lawson, and Dr. Rouse.” He explained that “even some teachers that aren’t there anymore, I think I pulled a little bit from all of them.”

After Hampden-Sydney, Hawthorne took a trip to the Cougars’ cross-town rival and taught at Saint Christopher’s School. Hawthorne “taught chemistry and physics for two years. I coached football, basketball and lacrosse, and it was a great job.”  After Hawthorne’s teaching career ended, he attended Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine. Hawthorne stated that he attended osteopathic school “to have the ability to treat the whole patient.” He finished his residency at Virginia Commonwealth University and went on to receive the David Draper award for top pediatric intern in 2018. He also won the Neonatology Award in his last year of residency. Now a doctor of osteopathic medicine, Hawthorne works for RVA Pediatrics and is happily married to his wife Jamie. 

Dr. Hawthorne today. Photo courtesy of RVA Pediatrics.

Hawthorne has always been a part of the Collegiate family. His father J.V. Hawthorne graduated in 1978 and knew he would be sending his children to his alma mater. While Hawthorne attended Collegiate starting in 5th Grade, his two other siblings, Annie (‘13) and Jess (‘09), attended the school as well. Hawthorne looked back at coming to Richmond once he had graduated from Hampden-Sydney and said, “It was awesome, It was great coming back. Watching Annie; she kind of grew up when I was in college, and when I came back [to Richmond], she was killing it.” One of Hawthorne’s favorite traditions while at Collegiate was the Feast of Juul, the annual senior boys dinner that now takes place just before Thanksgiving. He said, “I think it was the second year they brought it back; we got to roast all of the teachers like they were our buddies.”

Reflecting back, Hawthorne says, “Collegiate can really bring the best out of you and set you up for success, but it’s really up to you to go after that. I think we all really took that to heart.” Hawthorne is looking forward to getting more involved in the Collegiate community in the future, and he hopes to act as a liaison with Collegiate students who hope to go into medicine.