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.
Meet Our Mentors
Our mentors support the team with the experience, encouragement, and practical advice that help students keep growing.
Student Mentors
Student mentors are Barrington alumni or students who want to give back to the community
Aiden Anderson
Undergraduate at UIUC • CS + Physics
Student Mentor
Aiden is a Barrington FTC alum and brings his experience in computer science and physics to support students in engineering, coding, and problem-solving.
LinkedInProfessional Mentors
Professionals who bring real-world experience to the shop
Jeff Williams
Business Leader | Executive
Jeff shares practical leadership and business strategy insight that helps students connect technical work with growth, operations, and real-world impact.
LinkedInWant to become a mentor?
We are always glad to hear from people who want to support students passionate about engineering, programming, and robotics. If you would like to share your experience with our team, we would love to hear from you.