About Our Team
It’s Gonna Blow is a 10th grade half-female community robotics team in Illinois that competes in the global FIRST robotics competition. In FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology), students are given a hands-on opportunity to learn skills that are not typically taught in school, both STEM related, such as coding, engineering, and CAD, and non STEM related, such as accounting, public speaking, collaboration, and project management.
Team Members
Elizabeth
Hello! My name is Elizabeth. I am 15 years old and a sophomore at Highland Park High School. Outside of robotics, I enjoy playing the french horn in band, marching band, and orchestra. I love neuroscience and am also a big Lord of the Rings fan. I have been on It’s Gonna Blow for three years and am excited to continue into my fourth year. I love FTC because it gives me an opportunity to learn and try so many different things that I wouldn’t get to experience otherwise, be it coding, engineering, and CAD, or non-STEM-related skills, such as accounting, public speaking, collaboration, and project management. |
Niko
Hi! My name is Niko and I am a 16-year-old in 10th grade at Highland Park high school. I am a percussionist and I am a part of the school's drumline as well. On the weekends I like playing Dungeons and Dragons with friends, and sleeping in, as well as robotics of course. In general, I enjoy spending time with my friends and family, as well as programming or watching tv. I have two older brothers and an older sister. I have previously done FLL Robotics in 5th and 6th grade, and FTC from 7th grade to now. My main job on the team. I love being a part of FIRST as it is such a fun and welcoming community. I am very excited for every season and the challenges they bring for our team to overcome. |
Riley Hey, I’m Riley, and I am 15 years old and attending Highland Park High School in 10th grade. I helped create It’s Gonna Blow in 7th grade and now it is my 4th year having fun on It’s Gonna Blow, and before this, I was also on an FLL team for 2 years. I love being able to work so closely with my friends while learning so many new skills. Robotics has given me the opportunity to learn things that I wouldn’t be able to in other clubs. Outside of robotics I love to hang out with my friends and spend time destroying them in video games (video games being one game, and that game being Minecraft). Though I would say more importantly I am an active figure skater, and have been for 6 years. I also work with kids on and off ice, helping them learn and practice math, and how to do their best to stay off their butts on ice. I am so happy that we are able to participate in an in person season, and can’t wait to bring the energy! |
Lydia Hi! My name is Lydia and I’m a sophomore at Highland Park High School. I play flute in band and marching band at school and enjoy reading, running, and all things Harry Potter. I am a huge fan of camping and enjoy being surrounded by nature/ I have done FLL (First Lego League) for two years and FTC (First Tech Challenge) for three years, this year is my fourth. In this program, I hope to continue to gain experience in fundraising and outreach as well as fulfilling a passion for building and coding through robotics. |
Nathan
My name is Nathan. I am a third-year member of It’s Gonna Blow. I am in tenth grade at Highland Park High School and am taking my second engineering course there. Before becoming a member of It’s Gonna Blow, I had little experience with designing and coding. After watching for two seasons, I joined the team hoping to gain knowledge and experience of engineering and code. Now, I specialize in building and design and have become an expert in the design process. In my free time, I am an avid Star Wars and Marvel fan, and enjoy playing piano both at home and with the school jazz band. Ben
Hey! I’m Ben, a 15-year-old student in 10th grade at Highland Park High School. This is my first year participating in FIRST, and I’m stoked to be a part of Its Gonna Blow! I’m super passionate about all things STEM and think it’s really cool that FIRST creates these opportunities for us. The FTC seems like a really fun way to improve my skills with programming, problem-solving, fundraising, and collaboration. Aside from robotics, I play soccer with my school and am part of the Green School Initiative club. In my free time, I love to sketch, read, and hang out with friends. |
Howard - Mentor Hi, my name is Howard. I live in Highland Park with my wife Sue and three children ages 19, 17 and 15. I work as a managing director at Chicago based financial research firm First Analysis and am integrally involved in the firms’ research coverage of publicly traded companies as well as its venture capital operations. Before joining First Analysis in 1994, I was a senior tax consultant with Arthur Andersen & Co. I have an MBA from the University of Chicago and a bachelor’s degree in accounting from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. I'm also a certified public accountant. Though I have no technical training or experience working with children, I'm impressed with FIRST's mission and agreed to be coach of a the team when my daughter asked. |