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Team Bios

FIRST and Team 228 are about more than just robots. Although our team has been a relatively small one (with less than twenty students and seven mentors) for the past several years, our team has been likened to one big family. Most of our team members are good friends, and everyone loves coming to robotics.

One of the great things about Team 228 are our adult mentors, who come from a diverse background of professions including mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, high school teacher (physics), machining and more. Without the invaluable experience provide by our team mentors, our team would not be able to exist.

View Team Bios:

Students • Alumni • Mentors

Students

Bobby Dutra

What is your name and/or nickname?
Bobby Dutra; Bob
What school do (or did) you attend?
Wilcox Tech
What is your position on the team?
Pep Club
What is your favorite memory with the team?
At Battlecry when the team pulled a prank on my fathers car
When did you join the team?
2004
Why did you join our team?
to learn something new
What do you hope to learn more about on our team?
driving the robot
What are your intersts or hobbies?
Magic tricks, the history of magic, and illusions/illusionists (Blaine and Angel)
While in school, which class is your favorite?
Science
Do you have any favorite websites?
www.google.com or www.youtube.com
What is your favorite television show, movie, or video game?
Movie: Pirates of the Carribbean series, Madagascar TV Show: Mythbusters and LOST Video game: Crash Bandicoot
What is your favorite book?
The Outsiders
What is your favorite vegetable?
does pizza count?
What is your favorite food and/or beverage?
Mountian Dew Code Red, Livewire, or origional, and Pepsi
Do you have a favorite saying?
"Speak softly but carry a big stick" Teddy Roosevelt
What's one thing that really grinds your gears?
people who act immature

Tina Dutra

What is your name and/or nickname?
Tina Dutra
What school do (or did) you attend?
Platt High School
What is your position on the team?
Team Captain, mechanical, pep club, website, motivator
What is your favorite memory with the team?
Atlanta 2005
When did you join the team?
2004
Why did you join our team?
I didn't really join the team, but more the team absorbed me into it. My brother had been on the team and I went to all the competions and events. Before i knew it, I was on the team. I stayed because i love to figure things out and having a great time.
What do you hope to learn more about on our team?
I hope to learn more about building and engineering.
What are your intersts or hobbies?
snowboarding, skiing, tennis, photography, drawing, reading, playing the violin, hanging out with friends, texting :]
While in school, which class is your favorite?
history, science, math
Do you have any favorite websites?
youtube.com, facebook
What is your favorite television show, movie, or video game?
movies: Pirates trilogy, national treasure movies, pearl harbor. TV shows: lost, dancing with the stars, mythbusters. Video Games: not a big fan
What is your favorite book?
Reading for Dummies
What is your favorite vegetable?
snow peas
What is your favorite food and/or beverage?
Food: hamburgers Beverage: hot chocolate
Do you have a favorite saying?
Can i add sparkles to that?
What's one thing that really grinds your gears?
Laziness

Joshua Gibbs

What is your name and/or nickname?
Joshua Gibbs; Gibbs, Gobber
What school do (or did) you attend?
Platt High School
What is your position on the team?
VEX, Mechenical
When did you join the team?
2005
Why did you join our team?
I like to build things
What do you hope to learn more about on our team?
How motors work
What are your intersts or hobbies?
Video games
While in school, which class is your favorite?
Band
Do you have any favorite websites?
www.stupidvideos.com
What is your favorite television show, movie, or video game?
Who's Line is it Anyway
What is your favorite book?
Big Book of Cheese
What is your favorite vegetable?
Carrots

Evan Foell

What is your name and/or nickname?
Evan Foell; Evan
What school do (or did) you attend?
Maloney High School
What is your position on the team?
pep
When did you join the team?
2005
Why did you join our team?
Scholarships
What do you hope to learn more about on our team?
Everything
What are your intersts or hobbies?
Video games
While in school, which class is your favorite?
Computer Programming
Do you have any favorite websites?
www.youtube.com
What is your favorite television show, movie, or video game?
World of Warcrack
What is your favorite book?
The Dictionary (I memorized it)
What is your favorite vegetable?
Pork
What is your favorite food and/or beverage?
God berry
Do you have a favorite saying?
Do a barrel roll
What's one thing that really grinds your gears?
People that talk too much Cough*

Julianne Le

What is your name and/or nickname?
Julianne Le; Cupcake
What school do (or did) you attend?
Maloney High School
What is your position on the team?
Building and Programming
When did you join the team?
2006
Why did you join our team?
Mrs.Tomatsu made it sound interesting
What do you hope to learn more about on our team?
Lots of stuff
What are your intersts or hobbies?
Music,Games
While in school, which class is your favorite?
U.S. History
Do you have any favorite websites?
www.hassanansan.com
What is your favorite vegetable?
Broccoli

Kevin Mann

What is your name and/or nickname?
Kevin Mann; God (long story)
What school do (or did) you attend?
Maloney High School
What is your position on the team?
Team Captain
What is your favorite memory with the team?
When everyone was being pulled on robot cart
When did you join the team?
2006
Why did you join our team?
I wanted to learn more about robots
What do you hope to learn more about on our team?
Robots
What are your intersts or hobbies?
Video games, computers, Ultimate Frisbee, swimming
While in school, which class is your favorite?
Photoshop
Do you have any favorite websites?
Smash Bros. Dojo
What is your favorite television show, movie, or video game?
Pirates Trilogy/Lost/Super Smash Bros. Brawl
What is your favorite book?
Pendragon series
What is your favorite vegetable?
carrot
What is your favorite food and/or beverage?
Dr. Pepper
Do you have a favorite saying?
You keep tellin' yourself that.
What's one thing that really grinds your gears?
People who annoy me and people who take my beanie

Shannon Stolting

What is your name and/or nickname?
Shannon Stolting; The Smiley River
What school do (or did) you attend?
Maloney High School
What is your position on the team?
Builder
What is your favorite memory with the team?
Justin spitting spitballs at people
When did you join the team?
2006
Why did you join our team?
Because robots are so cool
What do you hope to learn more about on our team?
programming the robot
What are your intersts or hobbies?
drawing, soccer, hockey, robotics, skateboarding
While in school, which class is your favorite?
ART
Do you have any favorite websites?
transworld.com
What is your favorite television show, movie, or video game?
movie=My element, tv=gilmore girls, video game=Tony Hawk ProSkater 1
What is your favorite book?
Transworld Magazine
What is your favorite vegetable?
water chesnuts
What is your favorite food and/or beverage?
food=chicken nuggets, drink=dr pepper
Do you have a favorite saying?
si usted quiere limitarse este fino pero no dejar a otros hacerlo para tu
What's one thing that really grinds your gears?
when people lie to me

Papa Yaw Ntorinkansah

What is your name and/or nickname?
Papa Yaw Ntorinkansah; po
What school do (or did) you attend?
Maloney High School
What is your position on the team?
Pit Crew
What is your favorite memory with the team?
Saran wrapping Art Sr.'s truck
When did you join the team?
2006
Why did you join our team?
because i wanted to learn more about engineering/problem solving skills
What do you hope to learn more about on our team?
what it takes to be an engineer
What are your intersts or hobbies?
volleyball; tennis; soccer; cars; drifting
While in school, which class is your favorite?
Trigonametry
Do you have any favorite websites?
ctvolleyball.com
What is your favorite television show, movie, or video game?
meet the spartans; family guy; Naruto
What is your favorite book?
Thunder Point; Kane & Abel
What is your favorite vegetable?
Green Pepper
What is your favorite food and/or beverage?
mountain dew
Do you have a favorite saying?
nope sorry; doubt it
What's one thing that really grinds your gears?
freshmen who try to act mature

Benjamin Chuong

What is your name and/or nickname?
Benjamin Chuong; ben wuz here
What school do (or did) you attend?
Maloney High School
What is your position on the team?
Captain
What is your favorite memory with the team?
The robot ran...
When did you join the team?
2007
Why did you join our team?
I like building robots
What do you hope to learn more about on our team?
To learn more about robots and engineering
What are your intersts or hobbies?
Robots, R/C'ing
While in school, which class is your favorite?
Algebra 2
Do you have any favorite websites?
www.instructables.com
What is your favorite television show, movie, or video game?
Anything that's not Fast & Furious
What is your favorite book?
Dictionary
What is your favorite vegetable?
Steak
What is your favorite food and/or beverage?
Anything that tastes good
Do you have a favorite saying?
Quitters never win, winners never quit, those who never win and quit are idiots...
What's one thing that really grinds your gears?
People who can't drive properly

Tyler Paul

What is your name and/or nickname?
Tyler Paul; CCK
What school do (or did) you attend?
Maloney High School
When did you join the team?
2007
Why did you join our team?
My mom made me
What do you hope to learn more about on our team?
3D animation
What are your intersts or hobbies?
Playing Guitar, Drawing
While in school, which class is your favorite?
Science
Do you have any favorite websites?
www.com
What is your favorite television show, movie, or video game?
Flcl/None
What is your favorite book?
FMA Volume 3
What is your favorite vegetable?
Carrots

SM Ahmed

What is your name and/or nickname?
SM Ahmed; SM
What school do (or did) you attend?
Platt High School
What is your position on the team?
all of them
What is your favorite memory with the team?
taking some pictures with Mr. Flowers
When did you join the team?
2007
Why did you join our team?
I thought it would be fun to work with robots
What do you hope to learn more about on our team?
all of it
What are your intersts or hobbies?
electronics, soccer and tennis
While in school, which class is your favorite?
Science
Do you have any favorite websites?
www.youtube.com
What is your favorite television show, movie, or video game?
Call of Duty series
What is your favorite vegetable?
High Fructose Corn Syrup
What is your favorite food and/or beverage?
Mountain Dew
Do you have a favorite saying?
I got my flowers with Mr. Pictures

David Tang

What is your name and/or nickname?
David Tang; Tanger, Tang, David Tang
What school do (or did) you attend?
Platt High School
When did you join the team?
2007
Why did you join our team?
I thought it might be fun
What do you hope to learn more about on our team?
Learn computer stuff
What are your intersts or hobbies?
Web design, playing internet games
While in school, which class is your favorite?
Algebra 2
Do you have any favorite websites?
www.runescape.com
What is your favorite television show, movie, or video game?
Who's line is it anyway
What is your favorite book?
The Da Vinci Code
What is your favorite vegetable?
Potatoes

Jon Boeglin

What is your name and/or nickname?
Jon Boeglin; Bogey
What school do (or did) you attend?
Society of Nationalist and Communist Parties
What is your position on the team?
Mechanical
When did you join the team?
2007
Why did you join our team?
I've been involved with robotics since 4th. grade.
What do you hope to learn more about on our team?
How to program and build robots.
What are your intersts or hobbies?
Building robots and videogames
While in school, which class is your favorite?
Math and science
Do you have any favorite websites?
the casual collective
What is your favorite television show, movie, or video game?
Video Games: Halo 3 and Call of Duty 4
What is your favorite book?
Lord of the Rings
What is your favorite vegetable?
Videlia Onions
What is your favorite food and/or beverage?
Mountain Dew
Do you have a favorite saying?
Argenblargen!!

Peter Ruffino

What is your name and/or nickname?
Peter Ruffino
What school do (or did) you attend?
Platt High School
What is your position on the team?
Pep Club
When did you join the team?
2007
Why did you join our team?
It seemed interesting
What do you hope to learn more about on our team?
Engineiring
What are your intersts or hobbies?
Skateboaridng, computers, electronics, hockey, drawing
While in school, which class is your favorite?
Art
Do you have any favorite websites?
meebo.com
What is your favorite television show, movie, or video game?
Movie: holes, Tele show: family guy Video game: super smash borthers brawl
What is your favorite book?
shattered mirror
What is your favorite vegetable?
brocculi
What is your favorite food and/or beverage?
food: fast food, Beverage: dr. pepper
Do you have a favorite saying?
THBBBBBB
What's one thing that really grinds your gears?
Swearing

Daniel Tobin

What is your name and/or nickname?
Daniel Tobin; Tobey
What school do (or did) you attend?
Platt High School
What is your position on the team?
Mechanic, Media
When did you join the team?
2007
Why did you join our team?
My friend Jon convinced me to do so.
What do you hope to learn more about on our team?
Web Design, Robot design
What are your intersts or hobbies?
Web Design, Computer Graphics, the Internets
While in school, which class is your favorite?
Photoshop, Band
Do you have any favorite websites?
http://www.casualcollective.com
What is your favorite television show, movie, or video game?
Movie: Stranger than Fiction, TV: House, Video Game: Halo 3
What is your favorite book?
Robot City by Isaac Asimov
What is your favorite vegetable?
Ketchup
What is your favorite food and/or beverage?
School Pasta Day, Dr. Pepper
Do you have a favorite saying?
Look what I did!
What's one thing that really grinds your gears?
Incompetence in computers

Stephen Zunda

What is your name and/or nickname?
Stephen Zunda
What school do (or did) you attend?
Maloney High School
What is your position on the team?
Pep Club
What is your favorite memory with the team?
I enjoyed the "Bash at the Beach" competition.
When did you join the team?
2007
Why did you join our team?
I joined because I like technology.
What do you hope to learn more about on our team?
I want to learn how a robot is made.
What are your intersts or hobbies?
I like videogames, drawing, and swimming.
While in school, which class is your favorite?
math
Do you have any favorite websites?
www.smashbros.com
What is your favorite television show, movie, or video game?
Movie: The Simpsons Movie (Spiderpig!!!) TV Shows: Naruto, Kappa Mikey Video Game: It will be Super Smash Bros. Brawl!!!!
What is your favorite book?
I like to read Naruto manga.
What is your favorite vegetable?
Broccoli
What is your favorite food and/or beverage?
Goldfish Crackers
Do you have a favorite saying?
"Can I have some fishy crackers?"
What's one thing that really grinds your gears?
My sister can grind my gears at times.

Matt Clark

What is your name and/or nickname?
Matt Clark; Matt
What school do (or did) you attend?
Lyman Hall High School
What is your position on the team?
Mechanical / Drive Team
When did you join the team?
2008
Why did you join our team?
I've had a life long interst in robotics.
What are your intersts or hobbies?
Robotics / Computers
While in school, which class is your favorite?
Science
What is your favorite television show, movie, or video game?
Family Guy / Halo / Counter Strike
What is your favorite vegetable?
Carrots
What is your favorite food and/or beverage?
Chocolate Milkshake
Do you have a favorite saying?
If it doesnt fit... make it fit.
What's one thing that really grinds your gears?
Kids who make you do all the work while they do nothing.

View Team Bios:

Students • Alumni • Mentors

Team 228 at a Glance

Location: Meriden, Connecticut, USA
Team Size: 25 Students, 10 Mentors
High Schools: Platt, Maloney, and Wilcox Tech High Schools
Rookie Year: 1999
Team Mantra: Contagious Enthusiasm!