2019-2020 Avatar: Dalton Richardson

My name is Dalton Richardson and I am excited to be an avatar and senior for this year at Gatton. But before I get into Gatton, I’ll give you a little introduction about me. I am from Fayette Country (aka Lexington) and my sending school is Frederick Douglass High School. I have always had a love for classes involving engineering or programming. Before coming to Gatton, I played a ton of golf and switched high schools after my freshman year looking for more of a challenge to my education. But, it wasn’t until Gatton that I found somewhere that was perfect for me.

In the week leading up to Gatton I was more nervous and excited than I had ever been before. But, after that first night, I knew everything was going to be great. Ever since then, everyone has been great and I have made some of the best friends I have ever had, have had some of the most fun I have ever had, and made some great memories.

Education wise, I have been pursuing to widen my understanding of programming by taking as many programming classes as I can. I have learned more than I ever thought was possible and have even started research within this area with Dr. Ziegler. Through this research, I have learned even more about programming and studied an algorithm called the Monte Carlo Tree Search. I have also been able to take other great classes, met some great professors, and discovered some new interests. Just a few of the most memorable classes I have taken include Psychology, American History, and Mobile App Development.    

Another great part of Gatton are the study abroad programs. So far I have gone to Costa Rica with Gatton and, as of writing this, am leaving for Harlaxton in one week. Costa Rica was one of the best experiences of my life. I made many friends on that trip and made many awesome memories. Stuff like walking all night along the beach looking for sea turtles, hiking miles through cloud forest, or swimming next to a massive waterfall will stick with me forever. If Harlaxton is even half as good as Costa Rica was, it will be well worth it.

Gatton has so far been one of the greatest experiences of my life and I have no regrets coming here. There have been times where I have been more stressed and overwhelmed than I have ever felt in my life, but it was all still worth it without a doubt. I am excited to come back for one more year in August and am excited to meet all of the new juniors.

Dalton