I am a senior at Highland Tech, and this is my fourth year participating in the FIRST robotics competition. I have been a proud member of the team since our rookie year in 2005. I have always worked primarily on the mechanics and development of our robots, and the past year I facilitated the construction and design of our competitive robot. This is my last year, and I will continue, as the co-captain of our team, to lead the fabrication effort.
Team Captain
Position: Head of Fabrication
I am in my sixth and final year at Highland Tech High School. I have been on the robotics team since our rookie year and in the past I’ve been part of the animation and fabrication sections. I joined the robotics team because I discovered that it was an excellent learning opportunity where we gain teambuilding and other practical life skills. It’s also a good hands-on activity where we get to work with technology. For the 2009 FRC season I'm the co-captain of the Highlanders. Specifically, I will work with the electrical components and wiring. The past year, the Highlanders went to the San Jose regional. This year we plan to attend the Las Vegas regional so hopefully this will be another great experience.
Team Co-Captain
Position: Head of Electrical
Hi I'm Robert, and I am a senior at Highland Tech. This is my sixth year here. I am on the robotics team because it's a fun experience that has lots of rewards educationally, and knew that I would learn a lot from working on the team. I am also very experienced in the field of technology. Some hobbies of mine are motocross racing, downhill skiing and taking apart computers.
Position: Head of Web Design, Computer Admin, and Blog Site
I have been on the robtics team for three years now, and this year I will be programing the robot. I joined the robotics team because it sounded like something interesting, and I felt that I could productively contribute to the team. I have been attending Highland Tech for 4 years now. I am also a part of the Linux user group since the Friday meetings began.
Position: Head Programmer
Hi, my name is Jonathan Graves, I have been with HTH Robotics for 2 years and this is my 3rd year.
Position: Fabrication/AWOL
Hi, my name is Ben Farleigh, a 4th year student at Highland Tech High and I fancy myself a hard worker. My team role is Fabrication and Team Spirit. This is my second year on the Highland Robotics team and I’ve found it very enjoyable. When I joined I was looking for a fun extra curricular activity that got me school credits and improved my time at school. Robotics was a good choice for me!
Position: Fabrication
My name Garrett Rodgers, and I’m part of the fabrication team at Highland Tech High. This is my second year in the robotics team. I’m already an experienced builder and have a lot of ideas to contribute. My main hope is to learn more and even have more fun than I did in my rookie year.
Position: Fabrication
Hello, my name is Amy Smales. As a freshman, this is my second year at Highland and my first year on the Robotics Team. This year I will be on the Electrical team as well as helping out wherever necessary.
Position: Electrical
Hi, my name is Andrew Hurst. I’m in robotics because I enjoy working with my hands and I like problem solving. This year I will be specializing in pneumatics. It will be a new challenge for me but I am looking forward to it.
Position: Support Staff
Hello. I am Angelique and this is my first year in robotics and second year at Highland. I am hoping to get the role of a programmer in our team. I joined robotics because my cousin, David Kerlin and his dad had fascinated me with all great stuff that could/may happen when you're in there and also, I love robots. I would also like to learn more about on how to build a robot.
Position: Support Staff
Hallo, Becca Weatherby, I’m in 7th grade at Highland Tech High school and I’m in the process of joining robotics, when I do, I’ll be a floater that will help when needed, and do my own thing otherwise. I am really anxious to see what this year will unfold, the surprises are never-ending.
Position: Support Staff
Hi, my name is Brandon Viena and I am enjoying the Robotics team. My position on this team is filming and helping Robert with the blogs. Also, I am the photographer for my class. This is my first time as a photographer and filming, but I am having fun.
Position: Support Staff
Hello, my name is Bryce Mahn. I developed an interest in robotics with my increasing interest in small electrical devices and object oriented coding. It is my first year in robotics at Highland and I am very enthusiastic about participating in the build season. I work well in both coding and electrical design, so during the build season I will be all over working on different tasks.
Position: Support Staff
Hey! My name is Carissa Whisamore and I am in 11th grade here at Highland Tech High. I am working with the electronics group in Robotics. This is my first year participating in Robotics and I am excited to see how things will turn out!
Position: Support Staff
I’m Christopher Corbeil this is my first year on the robotics team and forth at highland tech high I am the odd person I go where I am needed. I am good with a silver solder, band saw, and much more. I learned all this working with my dad at his shop United Electric Motors.
Position: Support Staff
Hi, my name is Dillon. I joined robotics this year and I am in the electrical team. This is my second year at Highland tech and my first year in robotics. I joined robotics because I have always been interested in building robots. I don’t know much about electronics but I am willing to learn and I have good mentors helping me through.
Position: Support Staff
My name is Ean Lindblom, and this is my fourth year at Highland Tech High. This is my first year in the robotics competition, and I am very excited to be in it as it sounds like a lot of fun and a great learning experience. I have always been interested in technology, and building a robot is no exception.
Position: Support Staff
I'm new to robotics this year. I'm looking forward to having fun with the group I am participating with, and participating in the exciting competition this year in Las Vegas. I will try my hardest to make a good addition to the team this year.
Position: Support Staff
Hi, my name is Luc. This is my first year in robotics and my 5th year at Highland Tech High. I decided to join robotics this year because I want to learn more about programming and it looked fun. I look forward to building the robot and going to Las Vegas.
Position: Fabrication
My name is Patrick, I’m 14, and have been interested in robotics and engineering sense I could remember. This is my first year on the FRC team, and fifth year in Lego Robotics. I got interested in designing building things when I realized that it was quicker and cheaper to build things by your self instead of buying them. My role on the team this year is Fabrication/Programming.
Position: Support Staff
Hello, my name is Roland Siemens. This is my first year in robotics at Highland Tech High School, and as such I don’t have a specific job yet, but I am hoping to get one by January. I look forward to trying out all the various jobs available to a new member on the team, i.e. electrical, fabrication, animation, or programming. I joined robotics because I have always held an interest in robots.
Position: Support Staff
My name is Timothy Dennis and this is my first year both with Highland Tech and the robotics team. I decided to join the robotics team because I would like to learn more about the about the process of building a robot and all the work that goes into it.
Position: Support Staff
Roxy Kohler is a teacher at Highland Tech High School. As the team coach at HTH, she enjoys watching the students learn and create, problem solve, resolve conflicts with respect and dignity and just have fun.
Terry has been involved with the 2005, 2007 and 2008 Highland Tech Robotics Team as a Chaparone/Mentor. "After learning what the First Competition was all about and seeing what it does for the students, I wanted to stay involved". Watching first hand the on-the-fly troubleshooting, problem solving, teamwork, cooperation, trial-and-error fabrication successes and failures, and the computer work that our kids go through on a daily basis is one of the MOST rewarding projects that I have been involved with. I can't say enough about what it's like to watch these kids learn, grow, and florish in the IT, fabrication, teamwork, science and gratious professionalist enviroment. That has to be near the top of my list of favorite memories. When you throw in the fact that I get to do this with my son, well it just doesn't get better than that.
Dave has been involved in robotics in Alaska since 2000 with the first FIRST team in the state. As the founder of the Alaska Robotics Education Association, he is committed to getting more students across the state excited about scince, technology, and engineering. Dave's backround in engineering has provided insight to the team in constructing the robot, and he has worked to provide the team the resources we need to get the job done.