Natasha Doan
​Secretary, Documentation
(Sophomore)
I am currently a sophomore.
I have always been interested in STEM, but robotics gave me a chance to explore. This year, I was in charge of our documentation team, where we recorded all of our accomplishments and challenges! Despite facing a few challenges along the way, our mentors and members are always ready to help us fix problems and grow from our mistakes. Our outreaches have not only given me a chance to reach out to our local scientific community, but allowed me to learn more about careers and jobs in STEM. Overall, I can’t wait to continue my robotics journey with Athena!
Eleanor Yang
Treasurer,
Mechanical Lead
(Junior)
I am currently a junior at EVHS. This is my second year on Athena, and I'm on the mechanical team. I have always been interested in STEM, and this was the perfect opportunity for me to understand more about robotics. I also feel like having experience in robotics would greatly benefit me in the future. I've learned how 3D-printing pieces can greatly help us build creatively and efficiently and has given me new insight towards robotics. This team has helped me expand my knowledge about the mechanical side of building a robot and I've enjoyed getting to know other girls with the same interests as me. I enjoy being part of an all-girls team and hope more girls would want to join the STEM field.
Ava Doan
Co-Captain,
Mechanical Lead
(Junior)
I'm a junior at EVHS and this is my third year in FTC and on Athena.
I’m a co-captain this year, and it has been so fun to learn along with the rest of the girls and also guide them to explore the mechanisms of our robot. This year I have been able to learn more and think outside of the box as well as expand my knowledge past the mechanical side of engineering. I also have enjoyed outreach because inspiring and teaching the next generation to take part in the STEM field was super fulfilling. I can’t wait to continue my progress with this team and see everyone grow. This team has always felt like a family and continues to support me and each other in all that we do.
Shrivalli Addepally
Co-Captain,
Programming Lead
(Junior)
I’m currently a junior at EVHS. This is my third year on Athena, and I’m a co-captain for this season. Last season was a challenging and exciting experience which allowed me to learn how to lead a team much better, and get a much better grip on the programming side of things. So far, this season has been really fulfilling to see all the new members go through the same learning process that I once did. Our team has grown from just classmates in school, to a second family. I’m so excited to see how this team will continue to grow and reach new heights in this season, and the years to come as well.
Saee Phalke
Programming Lead
(Junior)
I am a current junior at EVHS, and this year is my second year in FTC! I love programming and that's why I'm here in robotics. Java is a language I am proficient at, and I am so glad to have the opportunity to program the robot and wire the motors to the expansion hub. I enjoy solving problems, innovating and experimenting. Being a part of this team has also taught me patience, presentation, and critical thinking skills. A part of being a part of the Athena family is talking and making jokes together. The team has grown from something I enjoy to something I'm always looking forward to.
Jaimie Nguyen
Mechanical Lead
(Junior)
I'm a junior at EVHS, and this is my second year of robotics. Working with Athena cultivated such a fun and inviting environment because I was able to have in-depth, hands-on experience in the STEM field. I loved meeting new life-long friends from the team and spending hours together working on our robot. Despite being on the mechanical team, I was still able to pick up knowledge from electrical and programming to be well-rounded in all aspects of robotics. Being on this team has truly changed my life because it gave me a comfortable place for me to explore all areas of engineering.
Danielle Pham
Public Relations,
Mechanical Lead
(Junior)
I'm a junior right now and this is my second year in robotics. I have very limited experience in clubs, but I'm so happy I took the chance and joined robotics. I met so many intelligent, fun and charming people in this club, and without them my year would've been terrible. I love being PR because it's so much fun posting crazy things about our team and our memories during each meeting. On the team, I was in mechanical, and it has taught me way more than I could've imagined. Not only about engineering and tools, but about how much fun problem solving could be and how important communication is. I'm so excited to continue with this club during the rest of my highschool years with my friends, and new people I'll meet along the way.
Tanvi Sudireddy
Mechanical
(Sophomore)
I am a sophomore at EVHS this year. This is my second year in robotics, and I’ve had an amazing experience. I was always interested in building things, and being a part of mechanical has allowed me to do so. I have been interested in STEM and being a part of Athena Robotics was a great opportunity to be more involved in this field. Being on this team has allowed me to explore and develop many critical skills. I’m so excited to be a part of this team and I can’t wait to continue my journey with this team!
Inaya Yusuf
Programming
(Senior)
I’m currently a senior at EVHS and this is my third year in robotics. Joining team Athena has significantly improved my programming skills and taught me more about real-world applications of Java. I’ve worked in the programming team on creating our code for autonomous and teleop, also helping to debug or troubleshoot issues with electrical. Since I’m interested in eventually finding a career in the STEM field, I am also on the Computer Science pathway at EVHS. I enjoy being able to have hands-on experience problem solving and building a robot with a dedicated team. I’m extremely thankful to have this opportunity to learn alongside this amazing group of girls!
Grace Yan
Programming
(Junior)
I’m currently a junior at EVHS. I joined Athena because I was interested in the process behind building a robot and I also am a big supporter of women in STEM, as Athena is an all-girls team. I like how Athena includes everyone in their activities and meetings while also teaching about the aspects of robotics and STEM to others. I've made many new friends and met many new people through this robotics team. I also like how active and hardworking everyone in our team is. Personally, I have contributed this season by learning and programming the robot code, as well as helping test the robot's functionality and debugging errors.
Charlotte Ho
Mechanical
(Junior)
I am currently a junior at EVHS and this is my first year in robotics. I joined Athena Robotics because I knew I wanted to be a part of the robotics club at school and especially wanted to work in mechanical. Out of all of the robotics groups on campus, I chose Athena because of how capable and strong-willed their members are. I already knew some people through shared classes and felt that I would really enjoy working with them. I have had so much fun getting to know more of the girls on the team and love that I am able to work alongside them. On the team, I have helped assemble different parts of our robot which includes creating the claw and arm, tensioning the elevator, and attaching different mechanisms to the chassis.
Anjali Muralikrishnan
Mechanical
(Freshmen)
As a freshman at EVHS, this is my first year in Athena Robotics. While I have participated in some FLL activities and competitions in elementary and middle school, being part of this team is teaching me how to work with other people and tools in a whole new way. While I had expected to get better at robotics, in no way was I prepared for such amazing friendships and opportunities. It's great being in a team where everyone is hardworking, supportive, and kind. As part of the mechanical team, I assist in brainstorming new ideas for our robot, organizing our materials so we can keep track of them, and building the physical components. I really enjoyed my year so far and I hope to continue robotics in the future!
Kelly Xu
Mechanical
(Freshmen)
I’m a freshman at EVHS and it is my first year on Athena. Robotics has always interested me; I found its complex AI and unique mechanics that allows a robot move fascinating. It is so much more than just coding and wires, which is just equally as important, but I found many other things that come with it! The teamwork involved and the friends I made along the way that's made this team bond so well together. I wanted to try something I don't normally use and that’s to challenge myself to CAD-ing. I’ve learned a lot about the claw and how it works, including the mechanics of servo and DC motors. I love being on this team and I have had a lot of fun experiencing new things!
Kayla Xu
Mechanical
(Freshmen)
I am a freshman at EVHS and although I just joined Athena Robotics, I already love it. Being on the mechanical team in robotics is really fun; you have hands-on projects that aren't scripted, so you can be creative with how you solve problems. Something I like about Athena would be the atmosphere when we meet up. It's fun, welcoming, and productive, and allows me to collaborate to solve challenges with other people. I have helped put together the first prototype of the claw and elevator arm, as prototypes are the foundation for better, more improved final designs. I also worked on the engineering notebook, where I would summarize the challenges we faced and the plans we had that day. Athena is a really inspirational team and I’m so glad I joined this year!
Namya Bhargava
Programming
(Freshman)
I am a freshman at EVHS, and this is my first year in robotics. I joined Athena because I saw it as a great opportunity to improve my knowledge in STEM! As part of the team, I've learned more about the mechanical and programming side of building a robot. I have helped work on mechanisms and design the initial stages of the robot, and have loved working with our team to solve some issues. I feel so proud to be part of an all-girls team and hope to continue serving as a member of Athena Robotics.
Shreya Nadagowda
Mechanical
(Sophomore)
I joined Athena Robotics to deepen my knowledge of engineering. As a team we supported each other by overcoming many challenges together. After joining mechanical, my interest in the STEM field increased, and I discovered how much there was to learn. I have enjoyed contributing to the creation of the robot and am grateful for the many friends made along the way. I always look forward to the meetings, and it is so fulfilling to see the robot come together. I learned so much about new tools, and even discovered how much designing and planning plays a role in engineering.
Siya Arora
Documentation
(Junior)
I am a junior at Evergreen Valley High School, and this is my first year in Athena Robotics. I joined this team because I have always been fascinated by robotics and wanted to be able to learn the workings of a robot. I am also interested in technology in general and I wanted to be able to more closely explore it through joining Athena. I helped record our team's progress in the Engineering Notebook. I also participated in our outreach events, helping elementary students explore STEM. I am so glad to be part of Athena and I am excited to continue in robotics!
Driti Virani
Programming
(Freshmen)
I’m a freshman at EVHS. I joined robotics because I have always loved computer science, and as a girl, I wanted to have my voice be heard. Due to this, I decided that Athena would be the best team for me. Some things that I like about our team are how we work together as a team. Everyone is fully involved in what we are doing; we all have a role to play, and nobody is left out. During this season, I have done many things, such as wiring and configuring the robot. I am always helping my teammates if they need it, and I help motivate everyone. I’ve really enjoyed my year so far, and I hope to continue with robotics in the future!
Isha Vyas
Documentation
(Junior)
I am a junior at Evergreen Valley High School and this is my first year on the Athena Robotics team. Through our robotics team, I was able to dabble in both coding and the mechanical side of things to see which one I like the best. Through the supportive environment of the Athena Robotics team, I was able to give my ideas without fear of judgment. One of the many things I love about our team is that we are truly a community that helps each other out in robotics and other non-robotics situations. Throughout the season, I was part of the documentation team and recorded our challenges, achievements, and goals. I’ve really enjoyed this year so far and I don’t regret joining the team.
Sonal Mohanty
Mechanical
(Sophomore)
I’m a sophomore at EVHS. I joined this team so that I can get more experience with the mechanical part of FTC. I have always really enjoyed building things and putting together machines since I was younger, so I saw this team as an opportunity to work with others while doing something I love and compete with other teams to see their work as well. I enjoy working with my team members and I love that we all respect each other and help get the work done. I started the first few meetings learning about the different parts of the robot and how to disassemble and attach the parts; now, I know more about the different mechanisms and can help build more. I have a lot more to learn, but joining this team allows me to expand my knowledge as I learn with others!
Swara Phalke
Documentation
(Freshmen)
I am currently a freshman at EVHS, and this is my first year in robotics! I joined Athena because I wanted to explore the world of robotics and technology. I also wanted to join because I wanted to see how programming and mechanical engineering can work together to build robots. I am excited to inspire the younger generation to consider joining the STEM field. I like how we work together as a team to accomplish new things and how we are able to help the community and make meaningful connections with one another throughout this season.
Pranati Prashanth
Mechanical
(Junior)
I am a junior at EVHS, and this is my first year in robotics. I’m excited to be part of this team, because I always wanted to learn about robotics with hands-on experience. In addition to teaching me the basics of robotics, being on this team has taught me how to work in a team and be patient when things don’t go right. I have also gotten better at problem solving in creative ways when something doesn’t work. I helped put together parts of the robot and readjust whenever we discovered that something would work better. I’m really happy with all the friends I’ve made, and I love being on an all-girls team because we need more women in STEM.
Dakshata Chidambaram
Mechanical, Documentation
(Sophomore)
I'm a sophomore at EVHS, and this is my first year participating in EVHS robotics. I joined the team because I was interested in the idea of building a robot and being able to learn how to use it. I took robotics as an excellent opportunity to see if it interests me, which it does! I like being a part of Athena because we are all so supportive of each other, and I have fun at every meeting and am always learning something. I help complete the engineering notebook and help out here and there with mechanical and trying cad-ing/prototyping things for the robot. I’ve also made many friends along the way and love the experience of being on a team.