About Degrees of Freedom

In 2016, Si Se Puede Foundation(SSPF) founded Degrees of Freedom in Chandler, Arizona in 2016. Since then the robotics team has participated in 7 regional competitions, attended Houston Championships 3 years in a row, and won Rookie All-Star Award, Engineering Inspiration Award, and Chairmans Award in 2019 and 2022. More than just robots, Degrees of Freedom has made community service a top priority. Through workshops, summer camps, active mentorship, and much much more, Degrees of Freedom has been able to make a significant mark on the community.

Meet Our Team

Quincy

Grade: 12

Years in FIRST: 1 (FRC)

Interests: Robotics, D&D and Sewing

Aspirations: "I hope to continue to work with DoF and STEM after I graduate."

Hayden

Grade: 12

Years in FIRST: 2 (FRC)

Interests: How love works in Humans, aerospace engineering, track/ XC and swim

Aspirations: Doing research in neuroscience and changing the way that the world works

Tanisha

Grade: 12

Years in FIRST: 4 (FRC)

Interests: Singing, Baking

Aspirations: Getting my B.S. in Management Info. Systems and my M.S. in Cybersecurity from NYU.

Madhu

Grade: 12

Years in FIRST: 1 (FTC), 3 (FRC)

Interests: Robotic engineering, version testing, dance, music

Aspirations: MS in robotics engineering, Mentoring future ftc/frc teams

Nancy

Grade: 12

Years in FIRST: 1 (FRC)

Interests: programming, learning, music, traveling

Aspirations: Help solve climate change issues and help others in underdeveloped countries

Rodrigo

Grade: 11

Years in FIRST: 1 (FRC)

Interests: Guitar, Ukulele, Piano, Videogames

Aspirations: Engineering

Victor

Grade: 11

Years in FIRST: 1 (FRC)

Interests:

Aspirations:

Irae

Grade: 11

Years in FIRST: 1 (FRC)

Interests: Ukulele, digital drawing

Aspirations: Engineering

Mason L.

Grade: 10

Years in FIRST: 2

Interests: Competitive Robotics, Arizona green tea enthusiast , Sea Shanties

Aspirations: Electrical Engineering

Jaxen

Grade: 10

Years in FIRST: 1 (FRC)

Interests: Robotics, computers, engineering

Aspirations: "Mechanical engineer"

Liz

Grade: 10

Years in FIRST: 2 (FRC)

Interests: Programming, basketball, video games

Aspirations: My dream is to go to MIT to get some sort of engineering degree! Then I would like a job in research and development.

Deshna

Grade: 10

Years in FIRST: 2 (FRC)

Interests: I enjoy robotics, specifically the design and mechanical process. I really enjoy communication and the organization part of being on the team as well.

Aspirations: I plan to take a engineering related major in college as I have found an interest in that field.

Mason P.

Grade: 10

Years in FIRST: 1 (FRC)

Interests: Pokemon, Robotics

Aspirations: Mechanical or Computer Engineer

Prith

Grade: 10

Years in FIRST: 1 (FRC)

Interests: Arts & crafts, cybersecurity, music and writing

Aspirations: Pilot

Darsh

Grade: 10

Years in FIRST: 1 (FRC)

Interests: FRC, CAD

Aspirations: Aeronautical engineering

Lauren

Grade: 10

Years in FIRST: 1 (FRC)

Interests: I enjoy reading, trying new things, listening to music, and playing guitar.

Aspirations:I hope to discover my career path and how to make a better impact in my community.

Andres

Grade: 10

Years in FIRST: 1 (FRC)

Interests: Pokemon, Robotics

Aspirations: Mechanical or Computer Engineer

Ben

Grade: 10

Years in FIRST: 1 (FRC)

Interests: Arts & crafts, cybersecurity, music and writing

Aspirations: Pilot

Vihaan

Grade: 9

Years in FIRST: 1 (FRC)

Interests: Competitive Robotics, Competitive Golf, RC planes, Arizona green tea enthusiast

Aspirations: Pilot, Professional Golfer, Aeronautical Engineering

Audi

Grade: 9

Years in FIRST: 1 (FRC)

Interests: Math, marching band, engineering, and Harry Potter!!!!!

Aspirations: Math teacher/professor or electrical engineering

Diya

Grade: 9

Years in FIRST: 1 (FRC)

Interests: Mechanical. It is one thing I enjoy because I understand how it works more easily and I could apply what I learned effectively

Aspirations: I consider mechanical as a future major and/ or career. It is one major that requires a lot of effort, but I feel that with more attention and work from my side, I will be able to gain knowledge about this path.

Meet Our Mentors

Carolyn Reoyo

Years in FIRST: 7 (FRC Mentor), 1(FTC Mentor)

Interests: Capitol Buildings, Hiking, Robotics, Ukulele, License Plates, Home Renovation

Profession: Software Engineer at General Motors

Megan Cheng

Years in FIRST: 6 (FRC Mentor), 1 (FTC Mentor)

Interests: Traveling, cooking, video games

Profession: Software Engineer at GM

Faridodin "Fredi" Lajvardi

Years in FIRST: 2 (Mentor)

Interests: All things science

Profession: Former educator, now extracurricular STEM educator

Daniel Frank

Years in FIRST: 12 (Mentor)

Interests: Robotics, music, assistive technology, running, swimming

Profession: Assistant Teaching Professor of Engineering at ASU

Sarah Parker

Years in FIRST: 13 (FRC)

Interests: Reading, Roller Skating, and Science!

Profession: Supply Chain Project Manager

Izzy Thalman

Years in FIRST: 5 (Student) 6 (Mentor)

Interests: Robotics, working out, playing videogames

Profession: Robotics engineering student at ASU

Grant Lesley

Years in FIRST: 3 (FLL Student), 1(FTC Student), 3(FRC Student),4 (Mentor)

Interests: Board games, Reading, D&D, Movies

Profession: Mechanical Engineering student @ ASU

Juan Palomino

Years in FIRST: 3 (Student) 4 (Mentor)

Interests: Flying, board games, crypto, traveling

Profession: Software engineer

Bruce Kahn

Years in FIRST: 12 (FRC)

Interests: Spicy food, Tea, Technology, Learning, Magic

Profession: Software engineer

Steve Forbes

Years in FIRST: 1(FRC) ,16(FRC Mentor)

Interests: Robots, LEGO, and circus tricks

Profession: "Manufacturing Engineering Technician" at Intel. I run around the factory and fix the machines when they break.

Ashley Faucher

Years in FIRST: 2(FTC), 6 (FRC)

Interests: Dogs ( ONLY CHIP), machining, building, video games

Profession: ME Student @ ASU, contract engineering for start-ups

Andrea Schoonover

Years in FIRST: 2

Interests: Astronomy, Space Robotics, Music, Plants

Andrew Fechter

Years in FIRST: 4 (Student) 4 (Mentor)

Interests: Competitive robotics, LoL Solid Bronze 3

Profession: Mechanical Engineer at Moog Space and Defense

Romney Kellog

Years in FIRST: 5 (Student) 1 (Mentor)

Interests: Learning new things, spending time with friends and family, crafting, and adventuring in the outdoors

Profession: Graduate Research Assistant for the Laboratory of Energy And Power Solutions (LEAPS) at Arizona State University (ASU).

Glen Pohle

Years in FIRST: 2 (FRC Mentor)

Interests: Star Wars, Robots, Electronics, Soundtrack Music

Profession: Continue to mentor and inspire the next generation of future engineers, inventors, world-changers, and leaders.

Kylel Scott

Years in FIRST: 3 (Mentor)

Interests: Art, Robotics and AI

Profession: Robotics Student @ ASU, Graduate Research Assistant at ASU's Luminosity Labs, Intern at NASA Langley Research Center