MEET THE TEAM

JONATHAN PALOMO

President

Build Team and Software

This is my fourth year as a part of FIRST®️ and I am excited to show off what we’ve done this year. The experience I bring to my team is in software and manufacturing. After robotics, I want to go to either Texas Tech, UTRGV, or UT for studies in Computer Engineering. Robotics helps lead me into that field by getting me familiar with the subjects of problem-solving and the wiring/configuration of the robot as well as with the coding of such machines.

JENNIFER DUARTE

Vice President

Marketing

This is my first year in robotics. My longtime friends Jonathan, Jacob, Blevin, and Valerie invited me to join. Having no prior experience in robotics, I believe this year will be full of wonderful learning experiences. I am ready and willing to immerse myself in the program. Mainly, I will be assisting with media management, along with Blevin, given my experience with managing the McHi Color Guard media pages. I hope to contribute my organizational skills and passion for working with others. Given I am a senior, I plan on attending UTRGV for my Undergraduate and studying Pre-Biomedical Sciences as I want to become a doctor and possibly surgeon.

KEVIN ARY

CAD & Build Team

This is my second year in robotics. During my freshman year, I was a part of a different team and worked as a builder. I momentarily took a break from robotics. However, now that I am back, I am a part of Total Re-Paw. As head CAD-er, I feel in my element and can help my team design any component they require. I am ready to contribute all my time and energy to this team. As for my future college, I would like to attend either Baylor University or the University of North Texas as they are both respectable schools and places that could further me into a career that I enjoy.

EDUARDO MIRANDA

Build Team

I am a senior and this is my third year being in FIRST®️ Robotics. Robotics has helped me define who I am. It has helped me to be more collaborative and share ideas among my teammates. The experience that I bring my team is in my manufacturing/building skills, and I hope to learn even more this year from my teammates. After I graduate from high school, I would like to pursue a career in Mechanical Engineering at Texas Tech, Georgia Tech, or MIT.

JACOB PALOMO

Build Team & CAD

As a seasoned robotics competition participant, my team and I have gone through multiple trials and tribulations. These experiences define who I am and help me express the values I live by, which are perseverance, family, and ingenuity. You most likely will find me, in the near future, attending either UTRGV or UT Austin. These schools will allow me to pursue a career in Computer Science as well as allow me to expand my connections within the realm of engineering.

CHRISTAN PANOLA

Build Team & Software

I am a senior at McAllen High School and this is my second year in robotics. However, I was on a different team and decided to switch due to me seeking a deeper and richer experience with programming, as that was what initially drew me into robotics. After I graduate from high school, I plan to get my basics at UTRGV and hope to attend either UT Austin or UTSA to pursue a major in Computer Science.

ARYANNA REYES

CAD

Having joined robotics in middle school this is my third year in the program, joining Total Re-Paw my freshman year of high school. Support from my brother, a former member of the team, and my passion for creating models on computers led me to join and continue on in the program. After I graduate I am hoping to go to MSU or NYU because they have a good learning environment for me. That and I have people who cheer me to go and leave the nest we call home.

BLEVIN SAENZ

Marketing

This is my third year in robotics, having been recruited by my great friends Jonathan and Jacob Palomo. I was a bit of a blank slate from the beginning, having no real experience whatsoever in robotics. Mainly I had assisted wherever help was needed, but now I am in charge of media management. This was due to me being handy with a camera and being adept in video editing and social media. I plan to go do my undergraduate here at UTRGV and then further my academics at either UTSA or UT.

IZAIAH LOZANO

Build Team

I am a freshman at McAllen High School, and a new member of Total Re-Paw. Overall new to the robotics program itself, I am learning as much as I can. I want to become a 3D modeler later in life, so robotics is my first step in that direction. I am excited to learn new skills and get experience in this field. In the future, I want to apply to the Art Institute to study Computer Design.

CHRISTAN MORENO

Finance & Marketing

I am a senior at McHi and this is my first year in the FIRST®️ robotics program. I am involved in various school programs and sports including wrestling, powerlifting, speech and debate. I’m excited to compete alongside my team and broaden my high school experience, gaining useful skills and knowledge. Having been apart of many academic and extracurricular teams, I feel I have found a home as a part of this great organization. After graduation, I’m hoping to attend either Texas State University or A&M Corpus Christi to study Marketing and Finance.

ANDRES SALAZAR

Build Team

This is my fourth year in robotics as last year I was at Travis Middle School with my team was named the Roboterriers. This previous experience helped me prepare for the rigorous task of robotics. We learned some coding but mostly my role was as a builder. I would help in the assembly of the robot. I hope that I can expand my knowledge this year and grow as a better builder. UTRGV is the college I want to apply to, to learn new skills also learn some new stuff to know what to build, and to fix it also nice to meet new people to be working with.