Alumni
PWNAGE ALUMNI
We want to hear from you! Share your stories with us and re-connect with old friends and mentors!
PWNAGE has had a tremendous impact on the students who have participated in the program. Our alumni go on to have exceptional college experiences and successful careers. Read and listen to some of our stories below.
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Class of 2017
Ally Bowgren
Ally was the Head Mechanical along with a liaison to US Representation Randy Hultgren and served on the Youth STEM advisory committee. She graduated from Batavia High School. Ally then went on to study mechanical and megatronic engineering at Northwestern Illinois University.
Bailee Caldwell
Bailed helped with fabrication and scouting aspects of the team and graduated from West Aurora High School. He then went on to study Applied Science at Waubonsee Community College.
Luke Feeney
Luke supported the team in fabrication and earned the nickname "The Lathe Master". He graduated from St. Charles North High School. He then went on to study Engineering at Elgin Community College with plans to transfer to Northwestern to complete his degree.
Axel Gallegos
Axel served the team as the Vice President helped out with mechanical and scouting aspects of the team and was the human player in the FIRST Steam works competition. He graduated from West Aurora High School. He was accepted into the Engineering program at College of DuPage where he will specialize in Electrical Engineering then transfer to
Peter Garnache
Peter helped out with mechanical and scouting aspects of the team and graduated from Warrenville South High School. He then went on to study Mechanical Engineering with a robotics minor Rose Hulman Institute of Technology.
Dan Napierkowski
Dan helped out with the scouting aspects of the team and graduated from Batavia High School. He then went on to study Engineer Programming at University of Missouri College of Engineering
Chloe Tirard
Chloe was a French Foreign Exchange student that helped out with mechanical and scouting aspects of the team. Chloe returned to Paris France where she studied International Languages.
Bryce Williams
Bryce was the student body President, the Safety Captain and helped with mechanical and electrical aspects of the team and was homeschooled at College of DuPage. He has been accepted into the Engineering program at College of DuPage where he will be studying Electrical Engineering.
Daniel Yingst
Daniel helped out with mechanical and was instrumental as a drive team member. She graduated from Batavia High School. She then went on to study mechanical engineering at University of Illinois Champagne.
Class of 2016
Charles Faulkner
Charlie helped out with programming aspects of the team and graduated from Kaneland High School. He then went on to study computer science at Lawrence Tech University.
Brian Holmgren
Brian helped out with mechanical and scouting aspects of the team and graduated from Burlington Central High School. He then went on to study mechanical engineering at Marquette University.
Iris Johnson
Iris helped out with programming aspects of the team and graduated from St. Charles North High School. She then went on to electrical engineering at Northern Illinois University.
Triston Powell
Triston helped out with electrical and programming aspects of the team and graduated from Batavia High School. He then went on to study electrical engineering at Southern Illinois University. He continues his involvement in FIRST through mentoring a team in college.
Ryder Stout
Ryder helped out with mechanical aspects of the team and graduated from St. Charles East High School. He then went on to study mechanical engineering at Iowa State University.
Class of 2015
Bennet Bernardoni
Bennet helped out with programming aspects of the team and graduated from Batavia High School. He then went on to study computer science at the University of Illinois Champaign-Urbana.
Nick Bowgren
Nick helped out with mechanical aspects of the team and graduated from Batavia High School. He then went on to study mechanical engineering.
Emil Broemmelsiek
Emil helped out with mechanical and design aspects of the team and graduated from Batavia High School. He then went on to study aerospace engineering at the University of Illinois Champaign-Urbana.
David Mahler
David helped out with mechanical aspects of the team and graduated from Batavia High School. He then went on to study mechanical engineering at Iowa State University.
Josh Vilchuck
Josh helped out with mechanical aspects of the team and graduated from Batavia High School. He then went on to study business at Iowa State University.
Eric Yingst
Eric helped out with programming aspects of the team and graduated from Batavia High School. He then went on to study software engineering at Iowa State University.
Class of 2014
Christopher Draus
Chris helped out with electrical aspects of the team and was a driver. He graduated from St. Charles North High School.
McKenna Haller
Kenna helped out with electrical aspects of the team and graduated from Metea Valley High School. She then went on to study electrical engineering at Arizona State University.
Alyssa Faulkner
Alyssa helped out with mechanical and nontechnical aspects of the team and graduated from Kaneland High School. She then went on to study music therapy.
Ryan Newendyke
Ryan helped out with mechanical, design, and scouting aspects of the team and graduated from West Aurora High School. He then went on to study mechanical engineering at Valparaiso University. He continues his involvement in FIRST through helping out PWNAGE #2451.
Jose Torres
Graduated from West Aurora High School and is now studying at Northern Illinois University.
Class of 2013
Andy Anderson
Andy helped out with mechanical, design, scouting, and nontechnical aspects of the team and graduated from Burlington Central High School. He then went on to study industrial engineering at the Milwaukee School of Engineering.
Jeff Good
Jeff helped out with mechanical and electrical aspects of the team and graduated from Burlington Central High School. He then went on to study mechanical engineering at Northern Illinois University. He continues his involvement in FIRST through mentoring PWNAGE 2451.
CJ Kolody-no updated info available
Class of 2012
Nick Coussens
Nick helped out with mechanical, design, and scouting aspects of the team and graduated from Batavia High School. He then went on to study mechanical engineering at the University of Missouri. He continues his involvement in FIRST through mentoring PWNAGE #2451.
Anthony Gomulka
Anthony helped out with mechanical and nontechnical aspects of the team and graduated from Batavia High School. He then went on to study mechanical engineering at Marquette University.
Josh Lindoo
Josh helped out with electrical and programming aspects of the team and graduated from Aurora Christian High School. He then went on to study computer science at Kettering University.
Aaron Wear
Aaron helped out with mechanical, electrical, and design aspects of the team and graduated from Aurora Christian High School. He then went on to study mechanical engineering at the University of Dayton, graduated in 2016, and is now working as a Robotics Tech/Programmer.
Class of 2011
Dane Christianson
Dane helped out with mechanical and nontechnical aspects of the team and graduated from the Illinois Math and Science Academy. He then went on to study mechanical engineering at the Illinois Institute of Technology, graduated in 2015. He continues his involvement with FIRST through mentoring FLL teams and volunteering at FLL events as a judge.
Megan Le Resche
Megan helped out with mechanical, scouting, and nontechnical aspects of the team and graduated from Batavia High School. She then went on to study music education at Elmhurst College, graduated in 2016, and now is a teacher in Naperville. She continues her involvement in FIRST through volunteering at FIRST events.
Logan Kundrat
Logan helped with mechanical aspects of the team. He then went on to study aerospace engineering at Iowa State University.
lec Pollard
Alec helped out with mechanical aspects and was a driver for the team. He was homeschooled and continued his education studying mechanical engineering at Letourneau University. He continues his involvement in FIRST through mentoring an FTC team.
Brian Rickets
Brian helped out with electrical and programming aspects of the team and graduated from St. Charles North High School. He then went on to study computer science at DePaul University, graduated in 2016, and now works at a legal firm as a software developer.
Aaron Wear
Aaron helped out with mechanical, electrical, and design aspects of the team and graduated from Aurora Christian High School. He then went on to study mechanical engineering at the University of Dayton, graduated in 2016, and is now working as a Robotics Tech/Programmer.
Class of 2010
Jacob Baran
Jacob helped out with mechanical and design aspects of the team and graduated from Batavia High School. He then went on to study technical systems management at the University of Illinois at Champaign Urbana, graduated in 2015, and now is working in industrial insulation.
Tom Blassick
Tom helped out with mechanical and electrical aspects of the team and graduated from St. Charles North High School. He then went on to study nuclear, plasma, and radiological engineering at University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign, graduated in 2014, and now works at Richardson Electronics as a RF Manufacturing Engineer. He continues his involvement in FIRST through mentoring Ctrl-Z #4096 in college and PWNAGE #2451.
Kelsey Draus
Kelsey helped out with mechanical and nontechnical aspects of the team and graduated from St. Charles North High School. She then went on to study materials engineering at Iowa State University, graduated in 2014, and now works at MEi as a metallurgical engineer. She continues her involvement in FIRST through helping to start and mentoring Team Neutrino #3928 in college, mentoring PWNAGE #2451, and volunteering at FIRST events.
Sarah Faulkner
Sarah helped out with electrical and programming aspects of the team and graduated from Aurora Christian High School. She then went on to study industrial management and technology at Northern Illinois University. Sarah has been working at United Technologies Aerospace Systems as a co-op. She continues her involvement in FIRST through helping out Winnovation Team #1625.