Alumni

Introduction

Welcome to Alumni Spotlights, celebrating a decade of innovation and excellence! As we mark our ten-year anniversary, we honor the remarkable individuals who have shaped our legacy.

This platform pays tribute to our dedicated alumni, showcasing their post-graduation achievements and contributions to robotics and beyond. From attending top universities to launching startups and earning certifications, each member has made a lasting impact on our community, showcasing the possibilities STEM education opens for all.

Join us in celebrating our alumni’s accomplishments and inspiring future generations of innovators.

Joshua (“Josh”) Hunter

High School Graduation Year: 2022
Years on Team: 2018-2022
Roles on Team: Mechanical Lead

Post-high school, Josh embarked on his journey at American River Community College, where he dove deeper into welding while simultaneously working at Big O Tire. His passion for welding led him to pursue a career in the field, currently undergoing training to become a welder and mechanical welding arm technician at Clark Pacific, a role he enthusiastically took on just a few weeks ago.

During his time on the team, Josh honed invaluable skills such as work ethic and responsibility, which continue to shape his professional trajectory: “You learn at robotics, you put in long days and a lot of hours, which you are going to do at any job you work at for the rest of your life.” The discipline instilled in him a robust work ethic and provided essential leadership training, alongside fostering his flair for design.

Drawing from his robotics experience, Josh emphasizes the significance of pursuing happiness and fulfillment in one’s journey, urging current members to remain dedicated to their chosen paths: “Whatever you are training to do, make it something that you enjoy doing.” He highlights that robotics isn’t solely about wielding power tools; it encompasses administrative and programming skills, offering a multifaceted learning platform.

Reflecting on his favorite robot, the 2019 Deep Space is special in Josh’s heart. He marvels at the intricate design of the elevator and recalls the joy of its construction.

Among his most cherished memories is the excitement of the 2022 World Championship qualification. Josh fondly remembers the triumphant moment of being hoisted onto the shoulders of his team members after success in the Sacramento Regional and securing a spot in the championships.

With a steadfast commitment to his craft and a wealth of experiences garnered from robotics, Josh continues to inspire and excel on his professional welding journey.

Matthew Rowe

High School Graduation Year: 2022
Years on Team: 2018-2022
Roles on Team: Co-captain Business Lead

Biography:

Matthew Rowe’s time on the robotics team from 2018 to 2022 was marked by his exemplary leadership as Business Lead and Co-Captain. His passion for innovation and problem-solving led him to pursue a degree in Philosophy & Legal Studies at the University of California, Berkeley, planning to go to law school to become an attorney.

Reflecting on his robotics experience, Matthew credits the team for instilling in him a strong sense of teamwork, communication, and adaptability, qualities gained through communicating with sponsors and advocating for the team. These skills continue to guide his personal and professional development. Matthew’s advice to current team members emphasizes the importance of perseverance, curiosity, and embracing challenges.

Although, his field isn’t directly related to robotics or STEM, he still believes that being on the team gave him skills that he will continue to use in the future. One of the skills that he still applies to his daily life that he achieved from the team was public speaking. He gained this skill through communicating with sponsors, advocating for the team, and speaking to the team in general.

Drawing on his experience on the team, He gained invaluable skills such as communication, responsibility and hard work, which continued to be helpful in his professional and personal life. In his words, “Stick with it and give it your best effort! You don’t know what you’re capable of until you push it.” The routine of the team instilled in him a wide range of skills that go beyond the world of robots and STEM, and prove to be valuable to this day.

With his commitment to the team for four years and leading as team co-captain we gained valuable experience and skill that he will continue to cherish and carry in the rest of his life.

Timothy Hunter

High School Graduation Year: 2021
Years on Team: 2017-2021
Roles on Team: Mechanical Lead Capitan

Biography:

After graduation, Timothy attended California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo majoring in mechanical engineering with a goal of becoming a manufacturing engineer. He continues to be active in the field of robotics, taking charge of his robotics team at Cal Poly and leading the mechanical team.

Reflecting on his robotics journey, Timothy attributes much of his success to the invaluable lessons learned on the team. From mastering the intricacies of mechanical design to honing his leadership and teamwork skills, Timothy’s hands-on experience in robotics continues to guide his path in STEM. His advice to current team members is to get out of your comfort zone and become involved as it is necessary for growth.

While on Team 5458, Timothy gained mechanical and leadership knowledge that he still uses in his current life. The hands-on experience that he acquired contributed to the development of his career; he learned to get involved and be a leader landing him in his roles today. As a mechanical lead

On the team Timothy learned getting out of your comfort zone and pushing yourself to be involved in things is necessary for growth. Timothy wants new members to know that being involved with first is an incredible resource. He says that “If you don’t know what you’re doing, there is always something that you could be doing.” Participation is what helps the team be successful.

Timothy’s favorite robot is Deep Space 2019, from the first year he took a design role and designed the robot’s elevator.

A memory from his years in robotics was when they qualified and attended worlds. He described walking into the convention and seeing all 6 fields next to each other as being an eye opening and memorable experience of his life.

Robots and leadership are two essential parts of Timothy’s life and he hopes to continue on his current path filled with power tools, strategies, trials and errors.