TEAM HISTORY
ORIGIN STORY
This is our eighth year as a robotics team through the Robotics Club at Scarsdale High School. The idea of having a robotics club was born seven years ago and had finally became a reality. At the end of June of 2016, some founding members of the club got into contact with a student in Palo Alto, California, who helped guide us in the preliminary stages of creating the club. In late November of 2016, we reached out to a team up in Pleasantville, who also helped give us some insight into the competition and how the notebooks should be organized. As of now, we receive funding from our amazing sponsors and we meet up to 5 days a week after-school.
PREVIOUS MEMBERS
SENIORS OF 2024
Former Captain: Parth Rana - I am a senior and this is my fourth year in the club. I worked in both engineering and programming over the last couple of years. I have really enjoyed getting to know everyone in the club and look forward to seeing where the club goes in the coming years!
SENIORS OF 2023
Former Captain: Ephram Cukier - I like cheese 🧀
Former Assistant Captain: Zachary Feldman - I am currently a senior at SHS. I am interested in all aspects of STEAM but especially Engineering and Science. This year, I plan to help in all aspects in the club and work in logistics, engineering, programming, and outreach.
Former Programming Director: Utku Melemetci - "To err is human but to really foul things up you need a computer"
Former Engineering Director: Grant Ishibashi: I am a senior at SHS, and a large part of my high school experience has led to this point in my life. Engineering has become a major part of myself and is almost inseparable from me. This year, I plan to spread all of my engineering knowledge onto the next generation of Robo Raiders, and prepare them for the future. Without them, there is no team and ultimately no reason to come after school and push anyone to follow STEAM. If you are the next generation of engineers and are reading this, know that I will never give you up. Never going to let you down. Never going to run around and desert you. Never going to make you cry. never going to say goodbye. Never going to tell a lie and hurt you.
Former Engineering Director: Brooke Diamond - As a member of three years, the team has become more than a club and more than a commitment and responsibility. It’s a group of innovative, intelligent, and driven people who come together to create an amazing community. I’m glad to be a part of the team, alongside my peers.
Former Outreach Director: Peter He - Hi, I'm an officer of the club dealing primarily with outreach and engineering!
John Apessos - I’m a senior recurring member to this club. I’ve been participating in robotics competitions since 6th grade, specifically vex at my previous school. The first competition is much more challenging and I’ve had to adapt to it. I am in the engineering department and love to see sketches or ideas, turn into something that can be used in a competition. I’m excited for the competition and I’m anticipating being a member of this club again next year.
Isabella Frank - As a member of the club for three years, I’ve been able to watch as the other members of the club, as well as myself, have created a community of intelligent, committed, and collaborative students that all do their best to contribute to the team in any way they can. It’s amazing to see what the group can do and to see the robot come together.
Adam Otsuka - I'm a senior at SHS in the engineering department of the Robo Raiders team. I'm a returning member, and have been apart of the team since freshman year. Our team works hard to achieve the best possible product to compete in the yearly FIRST robotics competition. It's amazing what we're able to pull together in just a few months.
Max Zhang - Although this is my first year in the club, I’ve had no trouble learning about how to be a contributing team member. Everyone in the club has been very helpful and open to any questions that I’ve had. Overall, the club has a chill and stress-free environment that I’ve really enjoyed.
SENIORS OF 2022
Former Captain: Max Almeida - I’m the captain of the club and deal with overall management. It has definitely been an interesting and challenging experience coordinating the many efforts that go into participating in the FTC competition. Through my four years in the club, I have worked within outreach, programming, and engineering roles, but have found a new appreciation for the club whilst operating in this managerial role.
Alex Horvath - I am a senior at Scarsdale High School, I am the main graphic designer of the Robo Raiders as well as an engineer. We in the Scarsdale Robo Raiders work hard to perform our best, and my job is to make us look the part.
SENIORS OF 2021
Former Co-Captain: Zachary Siegel - I am a senior at Scarsdale High School. I have enjoyed robotics and engineering for my whole life - I started programming in 1st grade. As engineering director, I help facilitate communication between the different engineering teams responsible for building various components of the robot.
Former Co-Captain: Margaret Kempe - I am a senior at Scarsdale High School. I enjoy building and designing robots a lot. I am all ears for everyone’s idea to build amazing robots and to develop our club.
Former Outreach Director: Courtney Guastafeste - I am a senior at Scarsdale High School. I have always loved to draw and appreciated anything regarding STEAM. As the robotics club's outreach director, I am responsible for reaching out to the community, planning events, and contacting businesses for possible sponsorships. In addition, I also help with designing the posters, shirts, and advertisements for the club.
Hannah Lee - I am currently a Senior at Scarsdale High School.
Claire Scott - I am currently a Junior at Scarsdale High School. I have been a part of the Outreach Department since my Sophomore year but have only started to become more seriously involved recently. I'm also a member of the school's literary club! I'm working with the rest of Outreach to plan fun events and build community spirit!
Amy Saxon - I am a Junior at Scarsdale High School and I am apart of the outreach department. I have been here since September.
Ithaca Weiss - I am currently a senior who likes all kinds of engineering, from computer programming to physical construction. I am also good at math and certain kinds of science. I signed up for robotics because I found it to be an opportunity for me to be brought deeper into the engineering world. I have been attending the club since the first day and I hope to keep devoting myself to the club and maybe join other engineering clubs and electives until I graduate in 2021.
SENIORS OF 2020
Former Captain: Alex Arovas - I have been passionate about engineering and programming for most of my life. I have built a 8 ft miniature of the Times Square Ball (which works) and programmed SHS Assistant (the newest school app). As the Captain, I worked to make the club as successful as possible and taught the robot how to speak. Often saying things like "Are you suggesting coconuts migrate?" and "Zach stop flashing people." Fun times. Sorry Scarsdale and New York, but lets go Badgers. On, Wisconsin!
James Coleman - I take part in a variety of clubs but find Robotics to be my one true passion. I've taken part in many robotics-related programs and even interned for the biomedical engineering program in Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Research Center. I hope to be involved in this club for many years even after I graduate.
SENIORS OF 2019
Former Captain: Teckhua Chiang - As team captain, I oversee the Engineering, Programming, and Outreach departments, ensuring that Scarsdale Robotics remains focused and successful. I help resolve disputes, manage meetings, and plan out the future goals of the team. I always aim to contribute my unique perspective on robotic design with an endless sense of energy, creativity, and passion.
Allison Liu - I’m a senior in Scarsdale High school. I’m in Varsity B tennis and have been playing since 6th grade. Throughout my life, I’ve enjoyed video games, math, and science so I later picked up programming and engineering enjoyable which I found enjoyable and fun. I joined robotics late because I did not know it existed until I saw flyers for the interest meetings.
Julia Halligan - I'm currently a senior at SHS, and I've been involved in the STEAM program for 2 years. I'm new to the robotics team this year and I'm super excited to learn more about robotics! Besides robotics, I spend my time doing homework, reading comic books, and watching movies and TV shows (especially the Office and Arrested Development).
SENIORS OF 2018
Mois Bourla - I am a senior at Scarsdale High School. I am an scuba diver, but when I’m not tinkering with my diving gear, you’ll find me hard at work improving our robot.
Ryan Jacobowitz - I am a senior in high school and an active member in the robotics club. My favorite subjects in school are physics and math and I enjoyed helping to build our robot and fixing the problems we face.
Jake Guastafeste - I am a senior in high school. My favorite classes are history and science. As a member of this team, I help with the building process of the robot and I work to add new and different ideas to achieve our goals.
Varun Valada - I am a senior at Scarsdale High School. I like Physics and Computer Science. I am the main programmer in this club, coding most of the programs. In my free time, I like to play chess and am a dedicated member of our debate team.
Ariel Goldman - I am a senior in Scarsdale High School. I have been an ice skater since 1st grade. I am also the Vice President of the National Art Honors Society, and enjoy reading and math.
Charles Simonds - I am a senior in high school. I help with assembling the robot and generally being a nuisance. I enjoy literature and the occasional thought exercise.
Gary Feng - I am a senior at Scarsdale High School. I like Physics and math. In my spare time, I enjoy playing chess and reading about mathematical formulas. My favorite book is The Golden Ratio. I am the team’s head driver.
Aadi Kapur - I am a senior and I have been part of the club since I was a sophomore. I started out by building Vex models as part of the team but slowly progressed to request and obtain funding. I subsequently built the team and led the logistics in the team.
SENIORS OF 2017
Julia Ng