Who are the Mechanical Minks?
Coach Shannon
Coach Shannon has been intimately involved with FIRST since she started an FLL Jr. team in 2011. Her day job involves wrangling advanced collaborative software systems for an Applied Physics Lab on the East Coast. She loves the challenge of learning all she can about FIRST robotics so that she can help student team members achieve their goals.
Mentor Rick
Mentor Rick is a founding member of the Anacortes Robotics Booster Club (ARBC), created in 2010 to support FIRST robotics at AHS. A retired Boeing Engineer, Rick loves to see student team members tackle the challenges of building the mechanical marvels used to solve FIRST robotics problems.
McKernan
The 2019-2010 SKYSTONE season is this 9th grader’s first with the Mechanical Minks. Although she is still trying out different roles, mechanical engineering is where she has spent the most time so far.
She has several hobbies, including baking and cooking. She enjoys hiking and swimming in the lakes of Minnesota, playing in the snow, and being out in cold weather. She also enjoys reading, and making jewelry and rosaries.
McKernan joined robotics because she thought it would be a lot of fun. She enjoyed her middle school robotics class – joining the FTC robotics team was a good next step to expand her knowledge.
Anthony
Currently in the 8th grade at Anacortes Middle School, this is his 2nd season on a FIRST robotics team (his first was with FLL at AMS). He is a mechanical designer and engineer for the team.
In addition to robotics, he is interested in engineering, astronomy, and physics. He joined the FTC robotics team because it’s fun, and he wanted to get more experience building and engineering.
Reagan
A 9th grader at Anacortes High School, this is her first season on a FIRST robotics team. She is both a builder and a programmer for the team.
Other interests include 3D design and sculpture, Spanish, and drawing. She joined the FTC robotics team because she really likes building and programming, and is very excited at the opportunity to build anything like a robot. She really likes hands-on learning, wants to see how things work, and is really excited for all the options that the Robotics Club has to offer.
Riley
Now in his 2nd season on a FIRST robotics team, he is in 10th grade at Anacortes High School. As a mechanical engineer on the team, he is looking forward to a fun experience, and a chance to meet new people.
Outside of robotics, he is interested in archery, chess, climbing, and running.