Throughout the spring semester we are celebrating our senior student-athletes with a Senior Salute series. Today's featured senior is cross country and track and field's Charlie Cuttino. Cuttino is a biochemistry and molecular biology major.
Q: Why did you choose to attend The College of Wooster?
A: I chose to attend Wooster because I liked the College's environment, the mentorship that comes with Independent Study, the small school size, and the people and professors.
Q: What does being a Fighting Scot student-athlete mean to you?
A: Being a Fighting Scot student-athlete means a lot to me. It gives me the opportunity to participate in a fun sport, get physical activity, remain healthy, and be part of a team. The team aspect has been a true blessing to be a part of, and I have developed close friendships that will surely last me a lifetime. Even when being an athlete is tough and physically exhausting, I can always count on my teammates to help me make sure I push myself, for me, but also for the team.
Q: What are some of your favorite memories as a student at The College of Wooster?
A: Some of my favorite memories from Wooster include running with my teammates at the conference meet, getting to travel to Kentucky to go to the regional cross country meet, all the biochemistry and molecular biology majors studying together for the chemistry exam, and going to the wiener dog race downtown with friends from the college.
Q: What is the best part about being a student-athlete at The College of Wooster?
A: The best part is getting to be a part of a team, make friends and connections, and improve as an athlete by putting in the work.
Q: What else were you involved with on campus besides your sport?
A: I am a member of the biochemistry and molecular biology club, a health coach in the community through the College's partnership with Wooster Community Hospital, a peer tutor, a STEM Zone intern, and a peer mentor.
Q: Which College of Wooster faculty or staff member has made the greatest impact on you and why?
A: Dr. Mark Snider has made a huge impact on my decision to pursue science as a future career and affirm that science is the field I want to do. Getting to do research in his lab, along with his enthusiasm for biochemistry and mentorship, has shown me how cool biochemistry is, and it is something that I would love to have as part of my life forever.
Q: What other people or resources impacted your Wooster experience in a positive way and how did these people and resources set you up to be successful at Wooster?
A: Coach Dennis Rice and the team impacted my commitment to a collegiate sport and provided me with the connections to succeed as a college student. Everyone at the Academic Resource Center has been supportive and provided me with the resources to learn well and make the most of my academic opportunities here at the College.
Q: Tell us a bit about your Independent Study project?
A: I am investigating substrate specificity in an enzyme called NicC, found in soil-dwelling bacteria. The compound NicC catalyzes in nature can be used as a model system for substrate specificity, as that compound, which is nicotinic acid, contains similarities to other harmful environmental contaminants. By studying substrate specificity using the NicC enzyme as a model, I can hopefully assess how NicC can be used to bioremediate these other, harmful compounds from the environment.
Q: Tell us a bit about something cool you did as a student at The College of Wooster?
A: I had a summer internship at University of Colorado Anschutz, where I had the opportunity to do cancer research by creating CAR-T cells to target a type of pediatric brain tumor called ependymoma. I visited Rocky Mountain National Park, as well as climbed Mt. Bierstadt over the summer of 2025. This was one of the many incredible opportunities where my education at Wooster helped me succeed careerwise outside of the classroom.
Q: Reflecting back on your time at Wooster, what advice would you give your first-year self?
A: I would tell my first-year self to explore more of the town area around Wooster, to learn to be an independent thinker and not rely so much on others, and to work hard.
Interested in becoming a Fighting Scot?
High school prospective student-athletes can click here to learn about our recruiting process, click here to view the virtual campus tour, and click here to learn more about admissions events, tours, and visit programs.
Transfer prospective student-athletes can click here to learn about our transfer recruiting process and use the links above for the virtual tour and admissions visit programs.
