Students

Aaliyah D. (She/Her)

Aaliyah D

I'm pretty proud of being spirit leader 3 years in a row, learning some names of tools, and learning how to use heavy machinery.

Fabrication Team

Allaya S. (She/Her)

Allaya S

When I started X-Cats, I thought this was for the robot, but this is more then a robotics club as we do events and outreach and more. X-Cats is family, we care about each other and I love that about X-Cats.

CAD Team

Angel R.

Angel R

The reason I joined X-Cats are for the scholarships and for skills I can use later on in life.

Electrical Team

Clement I.

Clement I

I joined because the thought of robots and engineering just sparked in me and i really wanted to try it out.

Feild Build Team

David N.

Daniel N

I originally joined because one of my close friends suggested it.

Electrical Team

Ibrahim M.

Ibrahim M

I'm happy with being in X-Cats, I learned so much, and my team members, and mentors are actually really good people. Overall, I joined the team because I wanted something new in my life.

Electrical Team

Jackson C (They/Them)

Jackson C

Last year I learned enough Java to code a four function calculator, and how to use pathplanner. This year I want to be technician, and win the autonomous award a second year in a row.

Robot SW Team

Jonas C (He/Him)

Jonas C

Since joining the team I have become a more friendly and sociable person, as well as learning a bit on how to work in electric.

Design Team

Tom S.

Tom S

My time on X-Cats has been amazing usually I wouldn't want to add more time to my day after school but X-Cats makes it worth while. I haven't been on the team long but I truly feel like this isn't a team at all but a family.

Fabrication Team

Kanhiya J (She/Her)

Kanhiya J

The X-Cats isn't just a robotics team or just any team that you're on ... it's an extension of your family. With all my love and my appreciation to the mentors that helped me out. I will be coming back as a mentor. ONCE AN X-CAT, ALWAYS AN X-CAT!!!!

Promotions/Funraising Team

Keke L.

Keke L

I know that I can get things done and not be able to slack off because I'm always focused and that's the type of mindset we need for this team.

Promotions/Funraising Team

Kennedi H.

Kennedi H

I thought it would be boring at first but it wasn't it's funny nice and good and the person that helped me when I first joined was Quinn they helped me with finding were I should go and stuff and they are the best.

Electrical Team

Lando A.

Lando A

I'm always ready to learn things (that aren't school related). I'd like to thank my mentors Doug and Romana for always helping me out and making my day a little bit brighter even if its at its brightest.

Feild Build Team

Noor H

Noor H

Some things I learned last year on the team was the importance of actually showing up and doing the work, the problems when it comes to just getting certain things done is that if you don't show up it won't get done.

Robot SW Team

Quinn G (They/Them)

Quinn G

This year I am learning to lead on a larger scale and juggle many tasks at once. At the end of this year, X-Cats is going to teach me what will probably be the hardest lesson to learn yet. How to let go of something very dear to me and say goodbye. (At least for now)

Web SW Team

Reyna K (She/Her)

Reyna K

While competition is very stressful, last year it was important to take a step back and realize that competing isn’t the only point of competition. Being able to meet other people with the same interests, explore my curiosity for engineering and the different types and just the amazing opportunities that come with being on a team has let me enjoy being an X-Cat so much more than I could’ve thought

Fabrication Team

Sadik H

Sadik H

The reason I joined X-Cats was to try something new and to help me find out what I want to do when I get out of high school.

Design Team

Ted W.

Ted W

I joined the team to work with robots and learn how to code.

Feild Build Team

Tristan J

Tristan J

One thing I wanted to accomplish this year was being able to be on the drives team. I was able to accomplish my goal, I am now the operator of the 2025 robot.

Design Team

Warren G (He/Him)

Warren G

Last year I wrote commands which Noor was able to use to win us the autonomous award. This year I would like the state machine I wrote to win us the controls award.

Robot SW Team

Zahari J.

Zahari J

Last year I was able to travel to Chicago and build a field and still have time left to do everything and help out and have fun. This year I want to travel to Albany and make new friends.

Field Build Team

Mentors

Aiden S.

Aiden S

Journal not yet submitted.

Robot SW Mentor

Becky Stratton-Cooper

Becky Stratton-Cooper

Last year, my boys, Jonas and Jackson, joined X-Cats. It quickly became an all-consuming passion for them, and they formed incredibly close bonds with their teammates. Naturally, that meant it also became a huge commitment for me. So, when Ms. Tookes asked me to co-advise the team this year, it felt like a natural step.

Promotions/Fundraising Mentor
Teacher

Bill Enderle

Bill Enderle

In years past, we built robots by design designing on the fly. There was a lot of trial and error a lot of dead ends, and a lot of spiraling out of control before we stumbled on a final design. We would go to competition find out how things didn’t work and then have to reinvent as part of our build process. In the last couple of years, we have managed to do things differently, and it can be seen in how we have designed our robot and how we have performed in events.

Fabrication Mentor
Packaging Engineer

Carlos Terrero

Carlos Terrero

One thing I that I realized is that every single role on this team is important. You don’t need to be in a leadership position to make a real impact. A team like this thrives because of the contributions of every member, whether you’re building, coding, strategizing, or supporting in other ways.

Design Mentor
Mechanical Engineer

Chuck Moon

Chuck Moon

Last year worked with 2 students to build the climber. This year, finishing adding bells and whistles to the cart and developing a climber and helping students with electronics

Fabrication Mentor

Daniel Rabess

Daniel Rabess

Datwan tricked me. He said it be easy and just a couple hours on Saturday haha. I love technology and community service. So it wasn't a hard sell for me anyway.

App SW Mentor
Software Engineer

DaTwan Dixon

DaTwan Dixon

This program is bigger than robotics. It is about building students, and every now and then it’s about building mentors as well. 2024 was amazing and I can’t wait to see how 2025 ends.

Web SW Mentor
Software & Systems Engineer

Douglass (Doug) Caine (He/Him)

Douglass Caine

Journal not yet submitted.

Field Build Mentor

Jan Enderle (She/Her)

Jan Enderle

When You Look Good, You Feel Good. Last year, I had the incredible opportunity to create a new sub-team: Imagery. ...I'm so proud of us and incredibly grateful for the dedication, excitement, and hard work everyone has put in to ensure we look good. And we do. Look good!

Promotions/Fundraising Mentor
Mechanical Engineer

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

Jeff Sciortino

Jeff Sciortino

Journal not yet submitted.

Drives/Electrical Mentor
Nuclear Engineer

Jenny Gaul

Jenny Gaul

Journal not yet submitted.

Impact Mentor
ENL Teacher

Lauren (Kay) Jennings

Lauren Jennings

Journal not yet submitted.

Promotions/Business Mentor
Medical coding

Kenya Calvin

Kenya Calvin

This year my goal is to learn more from Bill and Jeff about the Mill and Lathe machine.

Fabrication Mentor

Kimberly (Kim) Tookes

Kimberly Tookes

Journal not yet submitted.

Promotions/Business Mentor
High School Biology Teacher

Mikayllah Jones

Mikayllah Jones

Last year was a lot of fun for me. I got to travel with the team and experience the full excitement and spirit of our team during competition. This year I like to continue working on building relationships with local companies and organizations spreading the word and the X-Cats spirit. GO X-CATS ;)

Promotions/Business Mentor

Nick Wight (He/Him)

Nick Wight

Journal not yet submitted.

Integration/CAD Mentor

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

Patty Frazier

Patty Frazier

Journal not yet submitted.

Promotions/Business Mentor
Teacher

Romona Stalnaker (She/Her)

Romona Stalnaker

Last year was my first year on field build. I was just learning how to use the tools in the shop and learn to read the plans for the field pieces. With Doug's tutelage, I am learning my way around the shop.

Promotions/Business Mentor

Vicki Robertson (She/Her)

Vicki Robertson

Journal not yet submitted.

Drives/Electrical Mentor
Electrical engineer

Sara Robertson

Sara Robertson

Journal not yet submitted.

Molly Gildea

This year, Molly has taken a step back from X-Cats but is still working hard for us behind the scenes. Thank you Molly!

Promotions/Buisness Mentor