Meet Our Student Officer Team
Captain - Maya Allumada
As Captain of Team Chill Out 1778, I love being able to bring our team together around a shared goal and help everyone feel heard and valued. I also enjoy being a bridge between different subteams, making sure our ideas connect into one strong, cohesive robot that’s ready for the World Championship. I’m proud to help build a team culture that’s collaborative, resilient, and excited to keep learning.
vice CAPTAIN - Rowan McAlpin
Chill Out gives me a place to make new connections, build awesome robots, and grow my technical and leadership skills. Chill Out meetings are frequently the highlight of my week.
Secretary - Haze Johnson
Being a part of Chill Out has given me so many opportunities to learn new things and meet new people. I've made lots of great connections through talking to the FIRST community, which I am very grateful for.
Treasurer - Riley Morgan
The thing I love most about robotics is how we are practically a business. We’re able to learn how to write business emails, run massive events, and fundraise; which makes me feel like I’m part of a large business in high school.
Sergeant at arms - Dmytro Holoiadov
Joining FRC was one of the best decisions I ever made. It’s not just a simple after-school activity. It’s a way of life. Immigration into a new country is hard in many ways. It is especially hard socially. Joining this club has put me in an incredible community of accepting and like-minded people. I like contributing because it’s both incredibly educational and entertaining, as well as being a way to contribute to such a great community.
Meet Our Mentors
Steve Winckler (Lead Mentor / Coach)
Steve is an AT&T executive who leads large-scale technology transformations in software development, technical architecture, and new product launches. He helps the team with leadership development, planning, prioritization and risk mitigation, community relationships and overall team organization and execution.
Maura McDougall (Coach) (FIRST Alumni)
As a FIRST alum and University of Washington Tacoma graduate, her FRC experiences helped her grow and she wants to share that with students. She uses her knowledge of the robotics community to support the team and make sure everyone is organized. Maura helps students execute aspects such as documentation for awards qualification while encouraging them to have fun in one of the most exciting experiences out there.
Jeff Rodgers (Lead Mentor)
Jeff collaborates with amputees to design and build prosthetic limbs, involving project management, design, fabrication and assembly. Jeff helps students with task planning as well as aiding in design, fabrication and assembly.
Brian White (Lead Mentor)
Brian is a Design Engineer for Boeing Commercial Aircraft. He is responsible for developing and integrating new designs for interior linings (sidewalls, door and doorway linings) and assists in solving production build issues. This Brian plans to provide engineering guidance for the design, build and integration of the robot.
John Elder (FIRST Alumni)
John has nearly 10 years of robotics experience and a degree in computer science from the University of British Columbia. With knowledge of many FRC topics and experience as a Chill Out alumni, including two trips to World Championships, he primarily focuses on programming support and electrical design.
Christopher Kelly (FIRST Alumni)
An alumni of 1778 with FRC experience in leadership, CAD, strategy, and electrical systems, Kelly guides the team in these disciplines. He combines practical experience, his library of resources, and active engagement in the FIRST online community to share a wealth of knowledge with the team.
Andrew Hay (FIRST Alumni)
Andrew is a Chill Out alumni and graduate of University of Washington who assists the team in game analysis, strategic design, scouting, logistics, and competition readiness. Andrew's experience with 1778 includes two trips to World Championships.
Brie Nakamura
Brie devises creative but functional solutions through hardware, materials and design as a high end residential architect. Her strong project management & extensive CAD experience help the team with design and problem solving under strict time pressures. Additionally, Brie helps lead the team with fundraising and sponsorship execution.
Casey Auvé
Casey, a seasoned freelance graphic designer with over two decades of experience in the print and web design industries, actively serves on the boards of the Lynnwood Rotary Club and the Foundation for Edmonds School District. In his role, he leads the graphics team through the entire design process for both seasonal and standard branding projects, ensuring their seamless execution. Additionally, he plays a crucial role in securing grants and sponsorships, while also actively engaging in outreach efforts to promote the team.
Geoff McAlpin
Geoff has been a medical device electronics repair technician for the past 19 years. He is a former soldering instructor at Edmonds College and former IPC soldering rework trainer. He is currently working towards obtaining his Project Management certificate, hoping to become a certified PMP. Additionally, he holds an FCC Extra Class amateur radio license and enjoys photography. He hopes to help guide students interested in electrical/electronics to learn these skills.
Brian Sayre
Brian is a Senior Structural Engineer and Principal with BRPH Architects & Engineer, a multi discipline AE firm that specializes in Aerospace, Manufacturing, and Entertainment Facilities. He leads a group of engineers doing structural design all over the country. He has been involved in all sorts of projects such as Nintendo Land at Epic Universe in Orlando, Qualcomm Tower in downtown Seattle, Rocket refurbishment facilities around the country, schools, and residential buildings. He is excited to be in his second year of mentoring with Chill Out. He is a resource for materials mechanics, structural design, field construction, and general event logistics.
Keith Bowder
Keith is an electrician specializing in residential wiring. He currently works at Smart Electric as an estimator, project manager and field supervisor. Keith's projects range from simple lighting additions to large new construction home builds and everything in between. He brings his electrical and field construction knowledge to Chill Out, helping build field components and assist students in the shop.
Kevin Crader
Kevin currently works for JACOBS Engineering as an IT Systems Support Specialist. He worked for CH2M HILL Engineering for 24 years, helping CH2M HILL become a previous sponsor of the team. He also was a mentor and coach for Chill Out from 2007-2011, specializing in fundraising, photography, and community outreach. Kevin volunteered for FIRST at FIRST Regionals as a Robotics Inspector and other roles. He is honored to be a part of FIRST and help the students shape their future.
Shane Lambing
Shane is a bit of a jack of all trades. He works for a law firm as a patent paralegal, and he works at the hospital as a Chaplain. He has been mentoring since 2018. He has worked in many different industries. He is okay at mechanical, and can get by with electronics. He has a lot of contacts. He is certified in Mental Health first aid.
Todd Rosenfelt
Todd is a retired project engineer of the Boeing company. He has led projects including manufacturing updates, service related projects on Boeing aircraft, aircraft equipment development, and flight performance improvement projects. He has been a mentor for Chill Out since 2018, helping with field component construction and general help in the robots.
Chase Jablinske (FIRST Alumni)
Chase has been a technician at Computer Concept since the age of 17, servicing computers and assisting customers with various tech problems. His job also includes building out custom made-to-order systems and acting as IT support for various local businesses. He joined the team in 2026 and assists with scouting and strategy, using his experience from his time on his alum team 2910. He has a degree in computer security and works with the FIRST community by running the PNW FRC Discord Server.