University of Florida Student Joshua Cottle Wins 2024 Friedman & Simon Academic Scholarship for His Inspiring Journey from Cancer Survivor to Aspiring Pediatric Oncologist

Joshua Cottle, a biology major at the University of Florida, has been named the recipient of the 2024 Friedman & Simon Academic Scholarship. The $1,500 award will support Cottle as he pursues a pre-med track with the goal of specializing in pediatric oncology, drawing inspiration from his personal battle with cancer.

In his winning essay, Cottle detailed his harrowing experience with large-cell lymphoma, which he was diagnosed with as a high school freshman. Despite initial doubts about his recovery, he found purpose through social media by uploading videos documenting his journey to YouTube. The positive comments from viewers and fellow patients helped him feel less alone during his treatment.

Cottle credits his family as an invaluable source of strength throughout his ordeal. His grandfather, who worked his way out of a Puerto Rican slum to become a doctor, served as his biggest inspiration. When Cottle began feeling ill before receiving a diagnosis, his mother encouraged him to continue his coursework, assuring him he would overcome his illness. Both he and his mother felt strangely relieved when they finally received the diagnosis, as it provided clarity on what could be done.

By December 2021, a year after his initial diagnosis, Cottle had made a full recovery and began looking toward his future. He realized that his greatest joy comes from inspiring hope in others facing similar challenges. As a member of his school's Health Science Student Organization, Cottle now strives to use his experience to support other young people going through cancer treatment. The Friedman & Simon Academic Scholarship recognizes students whose academic achievements and life experiences reflect the law firm's values of community commitment and supporting others in need.