mentors

	2008 Eagle Robotics Team Mentors We Thank You For Your Support!

Click to enlarge image	Mr. George Bekey - Technical Mentor Started in our Eagle Robotics when we did in 2004, Dr. Bekey has continued to be a mentor to our team members since the beginning and every year since. Although now retired, Dr. Bekey was on the factuality at USC Robotics and at Cal Poly where his important title was "Research Scholar"; oddly enough this PHD graduate of UCLA was a professor at USC (no need to worry though, he wasn't a football team player so no conflicts). Dr. Bekey published a major book about robotics two years ago called "Antonymous Robots" (if you're in the mood for some light reading, his book is only 500 pages long, give or take a few). Besides engineering, hiking is an enjoyed pastime, as well as giving many lectors on robotics around the world (yes the world), in places like Italy and China but mostly in our USA. Now if you feel there isn't enough information here about Dr. Bekey, than just hit the google web sites about 1,420,000 will come up (no kidding!) with all kinds of awards (like his most recent award won in 2000, Recipient of the USC Presidential Medallion).
	Mr. Bob Dumouchel - Technical Mentor This mentor has been devoted enough to return to our Eagle Robotics every year since the beginning (either that or he has too much time on his hands!). That of course is not the case for Mr. Dumouchel, who has always been involved in technology and helped our first members in the programming and the mechanics of building a robot (after Jim came and took over, Bob moved on to assisting in "machining"). Time is spent wisely with this mentor, who is devoting his time to either his new up and coming business, Systems and Marketing Solutions ( www.SMRSD.com ), and what's left of his precious time with us. SMRSD is a Google ad word advertising company, (try saying that five times fast), a "Googlologist" as he says, and is also really active in Softech here locally and in marketing groups where he can be occasionally seen speaking for different marketing areas. Last year he was the president of Softech, and remains a board member to their company. For our team, he supervised the original programming of the first two robots both years, and then has been helping( just a little less actively) ever since. Mr. Dumouchel has devoted many hours here (so much so its hard to believe), but unfortunately will not be able to die of boredom with us for very long due to his new business. Although time with him will be unbearably short, he will still help our team make a better robot. Check out his web site and complete the circle via his Eagle Robotics web link!
Click to enlarge image	Mr. Bill Findley - Head Mentor Cal Poly graduate in 1977, Findley decided to try his luck in oriental horticulture (loved the work but no good jobs to suffice his career move), so then he went to work at San Luis Paints. It was there that a man came in who taught industrial science and lit a fire under his love for science and technology. He earned a teaching credential in technology and graduated in '83. Arroyo Grande High School had many uses for this teacher, where he educated many students as a Driver's Ed, the dreaded Algebra both A and B, a metals class, a few different automotive classes and of course electronics and robotics teacher. Scuba diving in the Channel Islands outside of Santa Barbara ( Ana Copa, Catalina, etc.) is one of his favorite hobbies, along with cooking (he makes a whole buffet spread for when his friends come over and BBQ's for us on Saturdays, and yes he is an exceptually good cook!), and he loves gardening (has mostly a tropical garden landscape with a cacti and succulent garden too because one is just not enough). His ride is a sports car Miata, which he "beefed up" to be even more impressive. Mr. Findley is the original Founding Father of our Eagle Robotics Team, started in 2004.
Click to enlarge image	Mr. Jim Greenhaw - Programming Mentor This world class champion lunar regolith excavation team chief-engineer (very important title), Mr. Greenhaw, started out as a nuclear instrument tech, but then decided that computer programming was more fun. The NASA Regolith Excavation Challenge (web site:csewi.org/regolith/ ) is hosted by California Space Authority (CSA) and California Space Education and Workforce Institute (CSEWI), and Mr. Greenhaw was the first competitor with his robot, "The Tech Ranch Tornado". His entry was the only one to run the full thirty minutes and collected 143 pounds of regolith during that time (that's pretty good!). His participation in the Regolith Excavation was in many articles, some of which include The New York Times Magazine, Launch Magazine, and Wired. He currently works for PG&E as a senior computer programmer (see programming is more fun for him). Past team members consider Jim "god" for his programming efforts and inspiration. In addtion to his work with Team 1388, he is also busy working on the robot for the 2008 excavation challenge (good luck Jim!).
Click to enlarge image	Mr. Mike Hendricks - Technical Mentor Mr. Hendricks started taking classes from Mr. Findley himself in his junior year, and as a senior joined the journey of creating the Eagle Robotics team in '04. He graduated that year, but is faithful to our team and comes back every year since to help build our robot and make it more efficient. His job hired him because of his experiences and dedication to this team, which is a mobile and fixed satellite service Internet provider industry expert (another important title), where he makes robot satellite dishes automatic. Mr. Hendricks even got his license plate to say "First Robotics Competition 1388" (how cool is that?!). The last two years he has gone by himself to the Robotics Competition to do volunteer work and offer his expertise on expecting robots. We are grateful to this fellow Arroyo Grande High School-er, who has been with us since the beginning and keeps on coming. hint: look inside his car, you can see some robotics stuff and on the back window is "www.eaglerobotics.com!
Click to enlarge image	Mr. Joe Herz - Web/Marketing Mentor Mr. Herz is a retired Computer, Video and TV high school teacher (he's very familiar with teaching technology to his students), and earned his Masters Degree in Educational Technology. Over his 32 years as a classroom teacher he taught all grades, K-12 as well as teaching teachers how to use technology. Hobbies include photography, guitar, drums (years ago in a high school band but definitely worth mentioning), and even teaching tech is considered a hobby. He now teaches online courses for the University of San Diego and his ride is a Miata (he and Mr. Findley met through the love of their sports cars and he also has a "beefed up" car - that's it pictured). This year he is working with the Marketing Team, and is teaching us crazy computer challenged people how to update our web site (good thing he does, or else this would be a blank page on an empty web site!).
Click to enlarge image	Mr. Phil Maggio - Technical Mentor This world's first worst poetry contest winner-second place-also built the world first square drum and helped put into production the world's first graphite tennis racquet. Not only has he helped set up and manufacture plants in four countries (the USA, Japan, Taiwan, Mexico and Canada), and has various items on the moon, but he has been in the manufacturing business for over thirty-three years! Mr. Maggio helps in the technical department (other various things have been done by this mentor, but interesting as they are they cannot be put on this web site but are told in robotics). Mr. Maggio, Mr. Studer and Mr. Hendricks teach our green tech's new things and ideas to make our robot more efficient.
Click to enlarge image	Mr. Taed Studer - Technical Mentor In high school Mr. Studer wore cowboy boots and Hawaiian shirts, where in the winter he worked as a nurse and in the summer he worked in the oil fields to pay for college. He earned his bachelor's degree in Orthotics and Prosthetics (artificial legs and supportive braces), where he "wears a lot of hats" (see the need, design for the need, fabrication prototype, teach, and coaching the use of leg braces or artificial legs). Playing inventor is one of his favorite things when there is a physical problem with a client and he can play superhero. Missing arms/legs and function durability cosmetics are no longer a problem when Mr. Studer comes a knocking. Premature babies are okay but if your over 105 chances are he can't help you. Two patients of his even climbed Mount Whitney with artificial legs, and one can bench press 300 pounds with an artificial arm (that's crazy!). He describes these challenges as working with Eagle Robotics as coming close to racing a car at 140 mph, riding a whale shark, wining a deep-sea fishing contest, being the head umpire for a little league game, being chief clown of the Special Olympics, saving three lives CPR, and my personal favorite, helping children walk when their doctors told them there was no hope at all.
Click to enlarge image	Mr. Bryan Quennell- Student Alumni This yet another Arroyo Grande High School graduate of '07, Mr. Quennell has always done electrical work and loves it. He joined our Eagle Robotics team in 2005, and this is his first year mentoring. At this time he is attending Hancock College, but is trying to get a transfer into UC Berkeley (hope he gets it), to get an electrical engineering major. Since he has a great passion for electronics, his hobby is "computering", and spends his free time here with us crazy robotics people to advise our electrical guys.
Click to enlarge image	Mrs. Hinchman - Mentor Emeritus Although additional responsibilities have left Mrs. Hinchman an invisible mentor, she deserves our many thanks for all the help she has and still contributes to our Eagle Robotics Team. She is our "ambassador" and "go to" advisor, as well as a good friend. This Cal Poly graduate remains on the local School Board, is an overall financial wizard, and is passionate about students entering fields of science and technology. In the past few years, Mrs. Hinchman took care of our travel arrangements and transportation, as she has been doing since she herself was in college (I swear she must have been a travel agent in her former life). She once assembled a tour around Los Angeles for thirty Cal Poly students where they visited six different cities and their buildings. Mrs. Hinchman was planning on taking part on this expedition, but did not do so due to an internship she was given in Los Angeles (job vs. pleasure, which is more important? hmm...). Ironically enough, when she told her boss about it, she asked why she didn't go! Anyway, Mrs. Hinchman has been our "nemo" (non-engineering mentor organizer), since the team originated, and is still finding ways to market our team.
Click to enlarge image	Mr. Garrett Tietz - Student Alumni Yet another Arroyo Grande High School graduate of '07 was an honored 1388 team captain for three years (being a captain is not all it's cracked up to be, keeping people on task and moving forward is in itself a challange). Mr. Tietz handles the leadership well and continues to return to Eagle Robotics to mentor us in machanical engeenering, which is what he currently is expanding his knowledge on at Cal Poly. As an Alumnus, he brings his past experiences to the new members as well as the faithful ones who also keep returning to the team.
Click to enlarge image	Mrs. Carolyn Kelley - Marketing Mentor Talk about super mom, Mrs. Kelley has been a part of our Eagle Robotics team for three seasons being a mentor/helper parent. Not only did she cook dinner for the first two years (amazing cook by the way), but she attends meetings alongside our members. Mrs. Kelley also went to the San Diego Regions last year, but remains a mom as her primary job. She has been a mom for years, and enjoys watching her children grow and involve, gaining leadership skills, multi-tasking abilities, discipline and teamwork due to Eagle Robotics. Hobbies of this mother include skiing, gardening, running (yes she's one of those crazy people who runs to relax), and her goal is to run a 10-k marathon by Thanksgiving 2008. Mrs. Kelley has always wanted to run a half-marathon, especially the one for women held in San Francisco. Like most women, she loves wine and wants to further her love by earning a Wine Industry Certificate to work in a winery (she claims that it's for the science and art of the skill). Good luck on that Certificate!
Click to enlarge image	Mr. Bryan Brungs - Student Alumni Yet another Arroyo Grande High School graduate ( I think I'm beginning to see a pattern here), Mr. Brungs was on our Eagle Robotics for two years, gradated in '06, and returned as one of our mentors. He currently attends Questa College, where he furthers his education in computer information and systems learning. He works with our machining guys and drive train. When Mr. Brungs was a student, he reluctantly worked on the web site, but loved everything else (I hope we're making you proud!). The love of his life is his $30,000 dollar car (with a 2 out of 5 safety rating), which he spends his free time working on. Other pastimes include playing video games and sleeping (lucky duck), which as a college student you try to do as much as you can!
Click to enlarge image	Mrs. Terry Skillin - Marketing Mentor Mrs. Skillin is a retired elementary school teacher (wow we have a lot of former teachers), and has been with our Eagle Robotics team for 4 years now. She is currently messing around with the marketing team with fund-raising and logo/give-away items, keeping us all on task and treated like her horses (she's the alpha female, do as she says!). Her awards include Science Teacher Mentor of the Year in Ventura Country, Cactus and Succulent Society of America Educational Award, Wasco Jr. Woman, Kern County Farm Bureau Leadership award (see I told you she was the boss). It must be added that her husband misses her due to her devotion to our team, sorry Mr. Skillin (we need her)!
Click to enlarge image	Mrs. Kathy Goss - Marketing Mentor A dreaded math teacher (oh no!), who is mean beyond all compare! Just kidding. Mrs. Goss may be a math teacher (Algebra 1 all the way to Pre-Calculus), but she is very selfless and considerate. She herself went to Cal Poly to get her degree in math, and has taught here in our own Arroyo Grande High School for 29 years (!). Could you imagine being a teacher for that long?! Plus, it must be added (out of sheer modesty I might add), that she won't teach anywhere else but here at AG High. Mrs. Goss still takes pleasure in teaching a much dreaded class, and continues to show up for work the next day. Math is not the only thing is this teacher's life, she also enjoys things like golfing (for the golf carts) and traveling (now who doesn't like to travel?). Photography is another favorite of Mrs. Goss's but country pictures only please (like of the barns), or the beach, but only with a film camera (digital is cheating!), and her rose garden is the pride of the yard (can't blame her they're my favorite too). Her car (the Mustang on the left), and her Samoyed k-9 named Sasha are prized things in her life, besides of course being a wife to her husband and a mother to her family. For our Eagle Robotics, Mrs. Goss's main job is using her teacher/mom eyes and ears to make sure no one gets into "trouble", and making sure we have snacks to eat after school (you try not eating for ~6 hours and see how your brain works). This is her first year as one of our marketing mentors, and hopefully she'll keep coming! Mrs. Goss makes us enthusiastically happy, for she is our own personal news caster (yep you heard me right). Mrs. Goss tells everyone (everyone she meets), about our Eagle Robotics, who we are, what we're doing, and goes on the road spreading the news of our robotics team (she says it's because she's amazed with all that we do in robotics and is impressed by how we get things done by ourselves, for she says she wouldn't be able to do what we do). Thank you for your news coverage!
Click to enlarge image	Mr. Jimmy Dolengewicz - Student Alumni Mentor Surprisingly not an Arroyo Grande High School graduate (too bad), Mr. Dolengewicz (don't worry if you cannot pronounce his last name, very few of us can!) graduated from Nipomo High School in '05. He currently is being educated at Cal Poly (surprise surprise), and is in his junior year as a mechanical engineering major.His days are filled with design and "machining" classes at Cal Poly (plus the dreaded homework pile from his classes), and spends many hours mentoring our fellow Eagle Robotics members. When asked how he manages to keep it all balanced, his reply did me proud :"don't do anything else during the robotics season!" (believe me, he speaks the truth!). Now even though Mr. Dolengewicz's a perfect candidate for the common phrase "time is of the essence", at least he doing something he loves (or at least what he tells us he loves). Mr. Dolengewicz has a "machining" shop at his own home and loves to work in there with his dad (like father like son). In his own little set-up, he "makes stuff" just for the fun of it (now that's the way to do it!).
Click to enlarge image	Mr. Andy Smith - Technical Mentor This Director of AT&T and Government Solutions of New Technologies (yet another important title!), Mr. Smith has been working with computers for a really long time. His whole background and education is engulfed in software and computer science (wow talk about loving technology). Besides helping our Eagle Robotics with technological problems, he also takes pride in road bicycling (watch out for cars!), surfing (extremely fun, but tiring to the arms), and spending time with his family (aww). Last year Mr. Smith helped us with the software, and this year he is helping us with our design. In addition, he took the lead when chaperones were needed in taking a few of our members down to Los Angeles for the 2008 Kick-Off. He is currently traveling due to his job (sad, but we understand), but will facilitate again when he returns (hurry back!
Click to enlarge image	Mr. Bryan Quennell- Student Alumni Mentor This yet another Arroyo Grande High School graduate of '07, Mr. Quennell has always done electrical work and loves it. He joined our Eagle Robotics team in 2005, and this is his first year mentoring. At this time he is attending Hancock College, but is trying to get a transfer into UC Berkeley (hope he gets it), to get an electrical engineering major (see? I told you he loves electronics). Since he has a great passion for electronics, his hobby is "computering", and spends his free time here with us crazy robotics people to advise our electrical guys (P. S. He loves his hair long).
Click to enlarge image	Mrs. Hinchman - Mentor Emeritus Although additional responsibilities have left Mrs. Hinchman an invisible mentor, she deserves our many thanks for all the help she has and still contributes to our Eagle Robotics Team. She is our "ambassador" and "go to" advisor, as well as a good friend. This Cal Poly graduate remains on the local School Board, is an overall financial wizard, and is passionate about students entering fields of science and technology. In the past few years, Mrs. Hinchman took care of our travel arrangements and transportation, as she has been doing since she herself was in college (I swear she must have been a travel agent in her former life). She once assembled a tour around Los Angeles for thirty Cal Poly students where they visited six different cities and their buildings. Mrs. Hinchman was planning on taking part on this expedition, but did not do so due to an internship she was given in Los Angeles (job vs. pleasure, which is more important? hmm...). Ironically enough, when Mrs. Hinchman told her boss about it, she asked why she didn't go! Anyway, Mrs. Hinchman has been our "nemo" (non-engineering mentor organizer), since the team originated, and is still finding ways to market our team.
Click to enlarge image	Mr. "Dax"ton Balzer - Student Alumni Mentor Just shy two classes of being a drama major, this college student decided to switch to engineering and has been in college for ten years now (boy I hope he likes college, that's a long time!). Mr. Balzer (affectionately known as "Dax" to our Eagle members), is currently getting his major in general engineering and a teaching credential so he can teach engineering (makes sense, and to top it off, he want to teach at the best high school around, our Arroyo Grande High). But life wasn't all fun and games with Mr. Balzer, no, he buckled down and waited tables for fifteen years to earn money at various places including "Dick's Last Resort" where he met his wife while waiting on her (interesting place to meet your soul mate if you ask me, but hey at least they're happy). For the past eight years he has been a comic colorizer, his best friend from sixth grade is his boss (weird! imagine growing up to be your best friend's employee; I hope they don't have a fight...), and children's party entertainer (wonder if he got paid more than a clown would...). Mr. Balzer actually has a pretty interesting life. Besides loving college enough to go for ten years, he also does a comedy improv. at The Sports Comedy Club. Being a rock star was a dream of his, but reality kicked in and he quit that kind of showbiz (who doesn't want to grow up and be a rock star at one point in their life?). His wife currently is pregnant, and is expecting this 20th! (congratulations on becoming a father! Though sleep will become a very dim memory for you ...still we are thrilled beyond relief on you bringing in a child to the world). Despite all that goes on in Mr. Balzer's life, he is happiest just being in his own garage (who can blame him? that's when life's the simplest!).
Click to enlarge image	Mr. Garrett Tietz - Student Alumni Mentor Yet another Arroyo Grande High School graduate of '07 was an honored 1388 team captain for three years (being a captain is not all it's cracked up to be, keeping people on task and moving forward is in itself a challange). Mr. Tietz handles the leadership well and continues to return to Eagle Robotics to mentor us in machanical engeenering, which is what he currently is expanding his knowledge on at Cal Poly. As an Alumnus, he brings his past experiences to the new members as well as the faithful ones who also keep returning to the team.
Click to enlarge image	Mrs. Carolyn Kelley - Controller Talk about super mom, Mrs. Kelley has been a part of our Eagle Robotics team for three seasons being a mentor/helper parent. Not only did she cook dinner for the first two years (amazing cook by the way), but she attends meetings alongside our members. Mrs. Kelley also went to the San Diego Regions last year, but remains a mom as her primary job. She has been a mom for years, and enjoys watching her children grow and involve, gaining leadership skills, multi-tasking abilities, discipline and teamwork due to Eagle Robotics. Hobbies of this mother include skiing, gardening, running (yes she's one of those crazy people who runs to relax), and her goal is to run a 10-k marathon by Thanksgiving 2008. Mrs. Kelley has always wanted to run a half-marathon, especially the one for women held in San Francisco. Like most women, she loves wine and wants to further her love by earning a Wine Industry Certificate to work in a winery (she claims that it's for the science and art of the skill). Good luck on that Certificate!
Click to enlarge image	Mr. Bryan Brungs - Student Alumni Mentor Yet another Arroyo Grande High School graduate ( I think I'm beginning to see a pattern here), Mr. Brungs was on our Eagle Robotics for two years, gradated in '06, and returned as one of our mentors. He currently attends Questa College, where he furthers his education in computer information and systems learning. He works with our machining guys and drive train. When Mr. Brungs was a student, he reluctantly worked on the web site, but loved everything else (I hope we're making you proud!). The love of his life is his $30,000 dollar car (with a 2 out of 5 safety rating), which he spends his free time working on. Other pastimes include playing video games and sleeping (lucky duck), which as any student, college or high school, you try to do as much as you can!
Click to enlarge image	Mrs. Terry Skillin - Marketing Mentor Talk about sergeant mother, this retired elementary school teacher (wow we have a lot of former teachers!), has been with our Eagle Robotics team for 4 years now! Mrs. Skillin is currently messing around with the marketing team with fund-raising and logo/give-away items, keeping us all on task and treating us like her horses (she's the alpha female, do as she says!). She graciously keeps us all on task and feeds us the food that keeps us going (yay for the food!). Mrs. Skillin is a true multi-tasker who can juggle very productively (just not three unless they are silk scarves), and we are grateful she is the circus clown she is. Her awards include Science Teacher Mentor of the Year in Ventura Country, Cactus and Succulent Society of America Educational Award, Wasco Jr. Woman, Kern County Farm Bureau Leadership award (see I told you she was the boss). It must be added that her husband misses her due to her devotion to our team, sorry Mr. Skillin (we need her)!
Click to enlarge image	Mr. Marvin Byrd - Student Alumni This former team member since '04 just randomly dropped in one day and I just had to get an interview (poor guy he came and we all jumped on him, it was quite a sight though...). Mr. Byrd is in his fourth year at Cal Poly and (surprise surprise), is after a major in electrical engineering. He works on designing test equipment that doctors' use for a cataract machine (he helps save lives!). Once graduated (lucky duck) he went directly to engineering for college (like a bear to honey). Mr. Byrd was in school for three years, then got a co-op working for Alcon Labs (there is lots of money to be made in those jobs!). Alcon's engineering is going up, and the stock markets' technology is the only good thing on the market now (everything else is not a sure thing), so get those engineering jobs (while you still can!). Like most college students dreams, Mr. Byrd plays in a "light metal" band, where he rocks the guitar and base (they actually have gigs and shows where they play!) even though they have only been a band for six months (that's quick!). When asked to give an inspirational quote, the reply we got was "I really think I should say something here" (give him a break, he's not going for an English major. Besides, it's funny!). But after that, he did us proud by saying that "people totally underestimate exactly how far the competition takes you". In fact, he got his job because he had a picture of one of our Eagle Robotics robots and explained the competitions to his soon-to-be boss, even over the people who had better G.P.A.'s (grade point average) than he did (see, robotics does help you after high school!). Famous last words of the interview were that "our Eagle Robotics has good ideas" (I couldn't have said it better myself).Mr. Byrd and Mr. Findley shaved their heads at the 2004 National Competition!
Click to enlarge image	All our other Mentors... It must be formidably acknowledged that we have mentors who are not on our web page, and as well as our past mentors. They are in no way less of an asset to our team or past teams, so here are a few who we owe our gratitude and support: Mrs. Lisa Burson: Currently keeps us well fed (thank God for you!). Mrs. Pam Park: Called all our sponsors (and bugged them to death), to get up-dated money and new sponsors (yay funding!). Mr. Bruno Bornino: A past Lt. Governor of Kiwanis International, he is a generous soul who lets us practice driving our robot in his warehouse (now we can practice for competition and won't make a fool of ourselves!).