Meet Team 1296!

Every team member is important to the work we do throughout the season. To honor everyone's dedication, we have written a brief bio for every student, sponsor, and mentor who participates on Team 1296. Each mini-biography describes what each member does for the team as well as a few interesting facts about them.

A very important member, Oscar, was added to the team in 2008.  Oscar is a friendly trashcan robot that attends all of the team’s community events and helps spread the knowledge of FIRST throughout our community. If Oscar was a robot, he would be R2-D2.

Mrs. Akard is an Algebra teacher at Rockwall High School and a sponsor of Team 1296. She attended Texas A&M and received her degree in mining engineering. If she had a million dollars she would spend it on plane tickets and vacations.

Mr. Allen works for Special Products Manufacturing and is a mentor for Team 1296. He graduated from UNT with a degree in interdisciplinary studies. If he were a tree, he would be a Bradford Pear.

Mr. Buchanan is a mentor for Rockwall Robotics. He works for The PTR Group and he graduated from the University of Maryland with a degree in electrical engineering. If he had a million dollars to spend, he would spend it on robots.

Mr. Douglas is a mentor for Rockwall High School Robotics. He began working at a fabrication plant as part of the assembly line and worked his way up to the position of director. If he had a million dollars, it would go to inheritance.

Kalil Armstrong is a first year junior on the website team. He is involved in band, youth and government and robotics. His favorite part of high school is socializing with his friends and if he could be any book, he would be The Prince by Niccolo Machiavelli.

Blair Belt is a senior and the Safety Captain. Blair is involved in Spotlight as well as robotics. She will be attending Collin County Community College next year. If she were a tree, she would be a coconut tree.

Vincent Bradley is a junior on both the robotic and non-robotic construction teams. Besides robotics, he is involved in the Rockwall High School culinary program. He plans to attend the Air Force academy after high school. If he had a million dollars he would spend it on a new viper.

Brian Bray is a freshman on the electronics. He is involved in both band and robotics. If he could spend all day watching any television show he would watch Mythbusters.

CJ Bricker is a junior on the programming team. His favorite part of high school is being on the robotics team. If he were a tree he would be a tree without squirrels.

Cole Brosie is a senior on the robotics team and is the Vice President of Robot Construction. Next year he will be attending Oklahoma State University. Besides robotics, he is involved in UIL for computer science. If he could have any super power he would want the power to think.

JuAune Burgess is a senior on the electronics team. She is a member of the Rockwall High School Band and robotics. She will be attending Texas A&M next year. If she were a book, she would be a post-apocalyptic book.

Alec is a sophomore on the robot construction team. Additionally he is in charge of cost and weight accounting. He is involved in debate and Spanish club as well as Robotics. If Alec could sit and watch one show for an entire day, it would be Big Bang Theory.

Alex Calderon is a senior and the Vice President of non robotic construction as well as a part of the Chairman’s committee. Besides robotics he is involved in band and theatre. Next year he will be attending Texas A&M University. If he could be a tree he would be an Italian Cyprus.

PJ Daley is a first year senior on the electronics team. Next year he will be attending Texas A&M University. He is involved in marching and jazz band as well as robotics. When he looks to his left, PJ sees his guitar.

Heather Dawe is a senior and the team historian. In addition to robotics she is involved in cross country, track and youth and government. Next year she will be attending Penn State. If she could have any superpower she would want super speed.

Chelsea Day is a sophomore and is the Safety Captain Sidekick. She is involved in both band and robotics. If she had a million dollars, she would donate it to breast cancer research.

Lauren Dunn is a sophomore involved in technology and the Chairman’s committee. She is involved in robotics, band and student council. If she had a million dollars to spend, she would buy a ticket to Maine.

Connor Fulton is a senior on the team who is involved in everything from construction to public relations. He plans on attending Oklahoma State University next year. If he could watch any show all day, he would watch House.

Ali Harakal is a sophomore on the website team and the Chairman’s committee. Besides Robotics, she is involved in the Rockwall High School Band and student council. If she could be any book, she would be Junie B. Jones.

Mallory Harvey is a junior on the non-robotic construction team. In addition to being in robotics, she is also a swimmer for Rockwall High School. If she could have any superpower she would love to be able to fly.

Ramiro Juarez is a senior on the non-robotic construction team. He is involved in both band and robotics and will be attending UTD next fall. If he could be any book, he would be a comic book.

Ben is a sophomore on both the non-robot and robot construction teams. In addition to robotics, he is involved in band and lacrosse. His favorite part of high school is robotics and if he were to be any superhero, he would be rubberband man.

Chris Marsh is a senior and the president of Team 1296. Besides robotics, he is part of the RHS band and academic decathlon. Next year he will be attending Oklahoma State University. When Chris looks to the left he sees Sami.

Jonathan Marsh is a freshman on the robot construction team. Besides robotics, he is involved in the Rockwall High School band and the RHS golf team. If he could watch any television show all day long he would watch Mythbusters.

Michael Mitchell is a freshman on the electronics team. He is involved in both the Rockwall High School band and robotics. If he could be a book he would be paper.

Krissy is a first-year senior on the electrical and programming team. She is involved in German Club and Robotics at Rockwall High School. Next year she will be attending Collin College. If she were any tree she would be petrified.

Jack Nalley is a senior on the computer animation and design team. He will be attending UTD in the fall. His favorite part of high school is having only three classes and if he were a tree he would be the biggest one in the forest.

Sarah Passon is a senior on the electrical team. Next year she will attend Texas A&M. In addition to Robotics, she is a percussionist in the Rockwall High School band. When she looks to the left she sees leprechauns.

Jonathan Patterson is a senior on the construction team. Besides robotics, he is the percussion section leader in the marching band. Next year, he will be attending Texas A&M University. If he could be any book, he would be a hard back.

Alen is a junior on the robot construction and programming teams. In addition to robotics, he is involved in rugby and fencing. His favorite part of high school is Mr. Charbonneau’s class and if he had a million dollars he would spend it on a million more dollars.

Caleb Streeter is a sophomore and works on both non-robotic and robotic construction. Besides robotics, he is involved in band and football. His favorite part of school is 3:45 and if he were a tree he would be a coconut tree.