Meet The Despicable Machine
A talented group of students and mentors working together to build amazing robots and make a positive impact in our community.
Team Leadership
The driving force behind our team
Hetanshu Panditi
Team Captain
11th Grade
Oversees day-to-day operations and ensures smooth collaboration between all sub-teams.
Naya Horn
Co-Captain
11th Grade
Leads the team with passion and drives our strategic direction. Specializes in project management and team coordination.
Programming Team
The brains behind our robot's intelligence
Jay Williams
Lead Programmer/UI UX Designer
11th Grade
Expert in Java and autonomous programming. Leads the development of our robot's software systems and designs a polished user experience.
Ethan John
Programmer
10th Grade
Contributes to software development and helps build reliable robot controls and automation logic.
Logan Tuchband
Programmer
9th Grade
Supports the programming team with software development, testing, and refining robot functionality.
Evan Chaturvedi
Programmer
9th Grade
Helps develop and refine control systems while supporting the team with software testing and improvements.
Mechanical Team
The builders who bring our designs to life
Hetanshu Panditi
Lead Builder
11th Grade
Hands-on builder with expertise in assembly, fabrication, and mechanical troubleshooting.
Naya Horn
CAD Designer/Builder
11th Grade
Mechanical design expert with experience in CAD and precision manufacturing.
Drake Deleon
CAD Designer
11th Grade
Creates detailed 3D models and technical drawings for all robot components.
Nic Szela
Builder/Human Driver
11th Grade
Builds and supports the robot structure while also helping drive the robot during competition.
Outreach & Business Team
Connecting our team with the community
Varun Nair
Outreach Lead
12th Grade
Coordinates all community events, fundraisinng, and manages our outreach initiatives.
Interested in Joining Our Team?
We are always looking for mentors and sponsors who want to support students passionate about engineering, programming, and robotics. Your support helps our FIRST Tech Challenge team build better robots, expand STEM outreach, and give students hands-on experience with real engineering and teamwork. If you're interested in getting involved, we’d love to connect.