Marketing & Outreach Mentor
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CAD Designer & Engineer
Mrs. Peterson has been a mentor of FTC teams for 5 years and LOVES it. As a programmer, project manager, and creative designer, she brings her knowledge to our team as a Marketing and Outreach Mentor.
Software Mentor
Hardware Mentor
If wisdom comes with age, then he would be the exception. The still young Mr. David Pierce is a scholar, a dynamic engineer, an accomplished musician, and a mentor for our team. If Henry Ford is considered an engineering master, then Mr. Pierce would be without a doubt the Leonardo de Vinci of robotics. When he is not dreaming up masterpieces, Mr. Pierce enjoys playing guitar and soccer. He joined FIRST as a way to help out on his son’s middle school team, but even after his son left for college, he has continued to mentor because he enjoys sharing knowledge and helping the team succeed. His professional experience has prepared him for the hardware mentor role, and he enjoys teaching teams throughout the engineering, the design process, strategy/preparation for the matches, and gameday activities. Mr. Pierce strives to build and support effective teamwork and gracious professionalism for our team. Mr. Pierce sees FTC as the perfect vehicle to introduce the world of engineering to middle and high school students in a fun format. His favorite part of FTC is watching the growth of students as they solve problems and learn to build!
Co-Coach
As the founding father of the Lightsaders 12928 team, Gil Garcia, has worked relentlessly to build our team over the past four years. As a coach, he has seen the best and worst moments that all teams inevitably go through. As the team has blossomed, he has teamed up with another veteran coach, Mike Scallon, to lead our team to the next level. Mr. Garcia is an energetic outdoorsman who camps, hikes, runs, skis, and enjoys cycling when he is not leading our team to victory. He first joined FIRST 4 years ago when he was given the golden opportunity to lead the robotics program. From the get-go, he has proven to be very capable as he took our team to worlds in our first year. Mr. Garcia is amazed by the shared camaraderie that exists between teams, even in a competitive environment. His personal goal is to build on his management skills as he leads a multi-faceted project like the First program. For Mr. Garcia, teamwork, friendship, individual growth, and awesome memories are what FTC is all about. His favorite part of leading our team is those thrilling moments when he sees a football player and a “techie” both pump their fists in the air when the team delivers. Seeing that excitement makes all the work worth it for him!
Head Coach
Even a dictionary would not be able to describe this man and his talents. Mike Scallon started his journey in FIRST Robotics as a coach of an FLL team in 2004. After ten years of diligent work, he aspired to new heights and opened the doors for an ambitious middle school FTC team at St. Gabriel’s Catholic School. Six years later and renowned in the community for impressive success, he teamed with Gil Garcia to create the greatest FTC team in high school. When he is not being an amazing coach, he is a father who enjoys the outdoors and taking his family to fish and hunt. For Mr. Scallon, FTC means challenges: he enjoys the level of accomplishment that is awarded to teams who push themselves beyond expectations. Above all, his favorite part about teaching students is seeing their natural abilities manifest themselves in an efficient form after tackling really tough obstacles.
