Team Members

Students

Aaliyah D

Aaliyah D

Wow, I was shy and look at me now, I have great communication skills, I can cheer at competitions, and most of all, I can be myself. Some people don't even realize the HUGE impact that FIRST Robotics does for the world. This program can change lives. .

Mechanical Team

Aianna Y

Aianna

Prior to joining X-CATS, I never knew about the extraordinary world that FIRST Robotics is. It is a community full of amazing students and adults who share the same goal.

Drives/Electrical Team

Alim K

Alim K

I joined because I saw the competitions last year in class and it looked really cool so I talked to my friends and we joined. And I hope to learn many things about mechanical and website design Alim Kiros

Web SW Team

Armaan Y

Armaan Y.

Armaan was on Field Build. He helped make the practice field for the 2023 team which benifitted our team as well as 3838.

Field Build Team

Cameron M

Cameron M

At the beginning of the season last year, I was fairly timid and didn't talk to many people, but by the end of the season after travelling and whatnot, I made many friends. most of which I still talk to today... I'm glad to have gotten on software this year, especially since this is what I want to get into in the future

Robot SW Team

Daniel J

Daniel J

I accomplished building a robot, strip wires, and I learned how to work on a mechanical team.

Field Build Team

DaRon C

DaRon C

The people of this team make me and my opinions feel welcomed. The lead mentor , DaTwan, is also helping me outside of the xcats organization. He recognized that I'm the only present senior at the time and he made sure I had goals prepared for college, and is helping me prepare for the life transition. DaRon Clanton

Web SW Team

Edward C

Edward C

I'm on the mechanical team, and enjoy learning about engineering stuff. this is my second year on the team.

Mechanical Team

Elinor G

Elinor

"I wanted to take advantage of the opportunities that X-Cats has to offer & have something meaningful to add to my collage application. ... So far, I have not regretted my decision one bit." Elinor Gaul

Web SW Team

Isabela G

Isabela G

It's really like a family here and it's pretty amazing. I find it so cool how we have our individual sub teams that work on certain things and we put it all together to achieve our goals for the years competition.

Integration/CAD Team

James P

James P

Even now I find difficulties in my software, I experience failure frequently. I get frustrated and annoyed with my software. All of these things are very normal, but what's important is that I can go back to the code, locate my errors, and learn from the mistake. Even if I fail again and again and again, I refuse to let it discourage me. Because failure is not the end of an effort, it is merely a hurdle on the path to success.

Robot SW Team

Jaonna B

Jaonna B

I learned how to do Java, html and speak and project my voice

Robot SW Team

Kanhiya J

Kanhiya J

At first, I didn’t like it I was really nervous because I did not know anyone that was on the XCats team. As time went on I learned so much about many different things, like you don't have to be super into technology to be on the XCats

Promotions/Business Team

Khaung S

Khaung S

When I first joined x-cats, I was nervous speaking in front of a large group of people. when I was forced to speak in front of a large group of people, I found ways to be less nervous, like keeping my attention on one person or looking in an empty spot in the crowd. To challenge myself at the end of the year, I volunteered to be the MC at the x-cats 30th anniversary gala.

Promotions/Business Team

Kiara R

Kiara R

I leaned how to come out of my comfort zone and talk in front of people. I accomplished making into the drives team being the backup driver for our last years robot “Material Girl”.

Promotions/Business Team

Kyeonie (Kiki) L

Kyeonie L

Kiki is on the mech team. she helped make the prototype robot.

Mechanical Team

Mackenzie (Val) J

Mackenzie J

"X-Cats aren't just about robots. It allows students to get that hands-on experience and open up space for their creativity. Although I’ve only been on the team for a year, I’ve been having an amazing time. I’m doing things that I’d never typically do, like talking to new people, sharing my ideas, and so much more."

Promotions/Business Team

Maddison (Maddie) J

Maddison J

I've learnt a lot more about coding, technology, and the reasons why computers and software operate the way they do since joining the app team. I've learned from this team that there are numerous paths you can take to accomplish the personal development and enhanced confidence you desire.

App SW Team

Minnatalla (Minna) B

Minna Minna B

When I came to the meeting I actually really enjoy it so far. I think that going this team was a great decision and I hope to learn a lot. Minna Bader

Web SW Team

Noor H

Noor H

I joined X-Cats because I thought it was a great opportunity to get into stem. I'm on the app team and hope to learn the basics on how to make an Android app, personal website, and programming using Java.

App SW Team

Olivia P

Olivia P

I joined x-cats to learn how to code. I always wanted to learn I just wasn’t sure if I would like it. I also joined to widen my education level.

Robot SW Team

Reyna K

Reyna K

Learning to work with everyone no matter how much you don’t want to is always a plus in any field. Wether it’s in competition or in your sub team, try to work with others even if they aren’t eaiest to work with.

Integration/CAD Team

Serenity M

Serenity M

Serenity is on the Promotions/Buisness team. She helped create fundraisers and manage the teams fundraising.

Promotions/Business Team

Shayri C

Shayri C

Shayri is on the Integration/CAD team. She helped create virtual game pieces and design the general look of our prototype robot.

Integration/CAD Team

Tristan J

Tristan J

What I have learned here from this year was how to work with cad and how to build some of the parts of the Robot.One of the accomplishment i have for being on the team is being able to be here more this year.

Integration/CAD Team

Tuolumne (Tula) G

Tuolumne G

Taking care and knowing your limits is important, especially when trying too hard will only make you feel worse. I will be sure to put this into practice this year and you best not guilt me for it.

Electro-Mechanical Team

Warren G

Warren G

I started last year with some coding experience, but never having used Java, Gitlab, or object oriented programming before. By the end of the year however, I was familiar and comfortable with all of these things and had contributed lots of code to the robot.

Robot SW Team

Neema B

Neema B.

Neema is on the App Software team. She helps to create the scouting app for 2023's competitions.

App SW Team

Chazmond (Chaz) K

Chazmond K

Chaz is on the Field Build team. He helped to create the practice field for the drives team to practice driving the robot on.

Field Build Team

Lamiah B

Lamiah B.

Lamiah is on the Robot SW team. She learned how to use the coding language called Java.

Robot SW Team

Mentors

DaTwan Dixon

DaTwan Dixon

From the team, the team spirit, the drives team, the graduates, the “rebuild year” which ended up being 5th place at Buckeye Regionals, 2022 was nothing short of amazing. The bar was set and the bar was raised.

Web SW Mentor
Software & Systems Engineer

Jan Enderle

Jan Enderle

I learned that if you keep the design simple, and stick to technologies you know, you can get the work done in plenty of time and have a very robust and successful robot. We did this with Material Grworl - just aiming for the lower goal. It was a winning design that brought us to picking position (5th seed) at the Buckeye Regional.

Mechanical Team 1 Mentor
Mechanical Engineer

Bill Enderle

Bill Enderle

Change is a part of life. It is rare that you will do the same thing forever. He will change jobs. You’ll change companies. You will change the place you live. What I’ve learned is that you need to embrace change as it is a way to help you grow.

Mechanical Team 2 Mentor
Packaging Engineer

Shauna Ormon

Shauna Ormon

Their dedication to the team and countless extra hours, inspired us mentors and allowed this vision to come to fruition. As most of them have returned, I am confident the team will surpass even their own expectations and build an incredible robot!

Robot Software Mentor
Software Engineer

Douglass (Doug) Caine

Douglass Caine

I'm on the mechanical team, and enjoy learning about engineering stuff. this is my second year on the team. .

Field Build Mentor
Professional

Molly Gildea

Molly Gildea

My main accomplishment was recruiting and retaining a set of about 10 middle school students for X-Cats. It was a lot of work keeping them safe and focused. I think I did a good job translating their needs to adults who are used to older students.

Mechanical Team 2 Mentor
Math Teacher

Jeffrey Huspen

Jeffrey Huspen

I helped in some of the off season events. I also help maintain the site where the X-Cats call home, and I will continue to do my best to make this project a success.

Build Mentor
Engineer

Dan Knopp

Dan Knopp

Heard of X-cats through running friends Shauna, Jan, Bill, Datwan, always wanted to be involved with FRC and enjoy mentoring and being involved in community. Looking forward to learning all about robots this year.

Robot SW Mentor
Information Technology

Lauren (Kay) Jennings

Lauren Jennings

The fact that “things don’t always go as planned” and to relax and “go with the flow” were the lessons that were reiterated for me last season as “everything worked out in the end”.

Promotions/Business Mentor
Medical coding

Daniel Rabess

Daniel Rabess

"My son is Ethan 2 years old. My wife works night shift, so because of our schedule. I'm usually late or leaving early to our sessions. So this year it was important for me to really lean on my fellow mentors to keep the ball in the air when I'm not around. It's the same lesson we try and teach the students. We're all in this together.

App SW Mentor
Software Engineer

Jeff Sciortino

Jeff Sciortino

Kept a dialog open with CAD and other sub teams to better integrate the electrical and drives systems with Mech, in a way that supported software.

Drives/Electrical Mentor
Nuclear Engineer

Carlos Terrero

Carlos_Terrero

I have been on the team for a long time working on the mechanical subteams on things that have worked and others that have not, but for the most part things that have worked well. Despite that I am always open to hearing from new members and trying new things. Last year we had a first-year mentor, Scott, that was former student on First team code red and at the time a UoR student. He had brought a new approach to what we were accustomed to. Despite having all these years of experience on him, I opened myself to his ideas and creativity. The robot was influenced heavily by this and for the better. My accomplishment was to be open new ideas and not to do things the same old ways, and hope to continue challenging myself to not do things tomorrow the same way I did them today.

Integration/CAD Mentor
Mechanical Engineer

Prashant Phadnis

Prashant Phadnis

Last year being my first year, I learned how well the team works together in a fun and cooperative way during the season. It was also fun to see the students grow and develop their skill set, which hopefully they can use throughout their lives and understand the importance of a STEM education.

Web SW Mentor
Software Engineer

Monica Phadnis

Monica Phadnis

Monica is on the Web team. She helps students code our team website and design their personal websites.

Web SW Mentor
Game Designer

John Vance

John Vance

John is on the Web team. he helps students code our team website and design their personal websites.

Web SW Mentor
Game Designer

Romona Stalnaker

Romona_Stalnaker

It is a huge time commitment but it has been a very different learning curve. Being a teacher of little kiddos, working with teenagers is such a rewarding experience.

Promotions/Business Mentor
Professional

Kimberly (Kim) Tookes

Kimberly Tookes

Kim is on the Promotions/Buisness team. She helps students to create fundraisers, advertise the team, and manage the teams funds.

Promotions/Business Mentor
High School Biology Teacher

Lee Kettavong

Lee Kettavong

It is that passion and hunger for continuous learning that drove me to become a mentor for the X-Cats software team. My focus is to introduce students to the fundamentals of programming, open their eyes to a potential career path, and ignite their own passion for software engineering.

Robot SW Mentor
Professional

Wilma (Vee) Chlebove

Wilma (Vee) Chlebove

They have curiosity while also needing guidance. It gives me purpose while also trying to make it fun - we laugh together.

App SW Mentor
Software Manager

Jeff Weine

Mark Kruse

My goal is to help others grow and learn from my experience, in exchange for me to learn and grow from theirs.

Field Build Mentor
Professional

Nick Wight

Nick Wight

I have been participating with FRC since I was a sophomore in high school and I would say that programs like X-Cats shaped me into who I am today more than anything else. As an outsider, it always seemed like you guys brought a level of professionalism and spirit that other teams did not have.

Integration/CAD Mentor
Professional

Vicki Robertson

Vicki Robertson

I learned to crimp and wire alongside the students – because at Kodak I always had a tech for that! My favorite part was getting to know the students and getting the chance to answer questions about the controls, electronics, and electricity.

Drives/Electrical Mentor
Electrical engineer

Mikayllah Jones

Mikayllah Jones

"I wish I had taken the opportunity to be apart of X-Cats when I was in high school. I was so happy to learn that my children are interested in the program;) ... It's fun to see first hand how the students can get ahead in school and the workforce. This is my second chance. I'm elated and proud to be apart of the team, it really is a dream come true." Mikayllah Jones

Promotions/Business Mentor
Professional

Daniel Jones

Daniel

Aaliya is an amazing student! She is part of the Web team and the mechanical team. She is a great team member and helps out where ever she is needed.

Promotions/Business Mentor
Tattoo Artist

Aidan Sciortino

Aidan Sciortino

Aidan is an alumnus of the team, former member of the CAD, App, Controls, and Software subteams, and is now a remote mentor on the Software Subteam. He recently used skills learned at X-Cats to secure a Software Engineering Job in California!

Robot SW Mentor
Professional

Ed Patterson

Ed Patterson

Ed is a mentor on the Promotions team. He travels all over the US to volunteer at FIRST Competitions.

Promotions/Business Mentor
Professional

Win-Jing Chin

Win-Jing Chin

My name is Win-Jing Chin (Jenny) and this is my first year on the X-Cats team. I love feeding back to society. I joined X-Cats team as a mentor at the end of last year. The trip to Connecticut to support the STEM program for BGCS team with Jan and Datwan work team last year triggers my motivation to join X-Cats team.

App SW Mentor
Software Engineer

James Robertson

James Robertson

Robot SW Mentor
College(WPI Major is Robotics)

Patty Frazier

Patty Frazier

Mrs. Frazier has been a teacher and mentor on the web team as well as the promotions team. This season, she is on subatical, but cheering and rooting for the team in the background. We can't wait to have her back soon, so that she can help out with some of her wonderful team award give-aways.

Promotions/Business Mentor
Teacher