2018-2019 Team Members

2018-2019 Administration

Kenneth Ricks
Faculty Advisor
Associate Professor. Electrical and Computer Engineering

Subsystems: Runs the place
Has a Chili Pepper on RateMyProfessor.com

"Old" and "Mean" -Dr. Ricks

Max Eastepp
RMC Team Lead
Senior

4th Year on Alabama Astrobotics
Subsystems: All
Has 2 adorable kittens. Formerly known as RadioShack

"Everybody is a genius. But if you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will live its whole life believing that it is stupid."

Jonathan Blake
Electrical Lead & Systems Engineering Co-Lead
Junior

3rd Year on Alabama Astrobotics
Subsystems: Electrical, Systems Engineering
Hit me up for your small electronics repair jobs
"Student design teams are where the rubber meets the road. This is what will prepare you for the world you enter once you graduate."

Kelvin So
Mechanical Lead & Safety Co-Lead
Sophomore

2nd Year on Alabama Astrobotics

Subsystems: Mechanical
I used to be internationally ranked in Clash of Clans
"In a gentle way, you can shake the Earth."

Mason McVicker
Software Co-lead
Sophomore

2nd Year on Alabama Astrobotics

Subsystems: Software, Electrical
Rock climbing and Skiing are my hobbies.

Matt Mason
Software Co-Lead & Systems Engineering Co-Lead
Sophomore

2nd Year on Alabama Astrobotics
Subsystems: Software, Systems Engineering
I once left my keys on an airplane and never got them back

Annie Hubbard
Logistics Lead
Junior

3rd Year on Alabama Astrobotics
Subsystems: Mechanical, Logistics

Andrew Sucato
Safety Co-Lead
Sophomore

2nd Year on Alabama Astrobotics
Subsystems: Software

I have accidentally entered an exit ramp (poorly marked let it be known) and am alive to tell the tale.

Alison Varner
Social Media Lead
Senior

2nd Year on Alabama Astrobotics
Subsystems: Electrical

My biggest accomplishment is being an official Dr Pepper Brand Ambassador

Emily Kabalin
Marketing Lead
Junior

2nd Year on Alabama Astrobotics
Subsystems: Logistics

I am a member of the Alabama Crew Club

Laura Malis
Outreach Lead
Sophomore

2nd Year on Alabama Astrobotics

Subsystems: Software

Can burp the ABC's

2018-2019 Team Members

Mason Adolfs
Sophomore

2nd Year on Alabama Astrobotics
Subsystems: Mechanical

Member of UA’s Club Baseball Team.

Jace Aldrich
Freshman

1st Year on Alabama Astrobotics

Subsystems: Mechanical

Likes red because it matches his hair

Nick Benedetto
Sophomore

1st Year on Alabama Astrobotics
Subsystems: Electrical, Mechanical
Once learned Spanish for a trip to Brazil

Russell Bromley
Junior

2nd Year on Alabama Astrobotics

Subsystems: Electrical

I'm from Las Vegas, Nevada

Nolan Clark
Freshman

1st Year on Alabama Astrobotics

Subsystems: Software
I greatly enjoy reading fantasy/adventure books

Look again at that dot. That's here. That's home. That's us. On it everyone you love, everyone you know, everyone you ever heard of, every human being who ever was, lived out their lives. - Carl Sagan

Jessica Crawford
Freshman

1st Year on Alabama Astrobotics

Subsystems: Mechanical

I grew up on a cattle ranch in southern Colorado

Zachary Diethorn
Sophomore

2nd Year on Alabama Astrobotics
Subsystems: Mechanical
I have been on a scuba diving trip with whale sharks

Benjamin Floyd
Freshman

1st Year on Alabama Astrobotics

Subsystems: Software

I play the Guitar and Trumpet.

Santos Gonzalez
Junior

1st Year on Alabama Astrobotics

Subsystems: Electrical
My dad has a plumbing & gas company, we work together.

I'm not a professional barber, but I still have some skills.

Daulton Guthrie
Sophomore

2nd Year on Alabama Astrobotics

Subsystems: Mechanical

I can solve a 3x3, 4x4, and 5x5 Rubik's cube.

Bryan Harding
Freshman

1st Year on Alabama Astrobotics

Subsystems: Electrical
I like to scuba dive.

Alex Horowitz
Junior

1st Year on Alabama Astrobotics

Subsystems: Mechanical
I played baseball for 13 years

"There's always a better way"

William Hoyt
Junior

1st Year on Alabama Astrobotics

Subsystems: Electrical, Software

Designated Filler of Holes

Garrett Jennings
Freshman

1st Year on Alabama Astrobotics
Subsystems: Software
Likes 8-bit remixes of pop songs

Christiana Kandra
Sophomore

2nd Year on Alabama Astrobotics
Subsystems: Mechanical

I learned to fly a plane before I could drive a car

Cora Kangas
Sophomore

1st Year on Alabama Astrobotics

Subsystems: Electrical, Logistics, Systems Engineering, Social Media
Learned about the team by writing a magazine article about it, not an engineer

"That challenge is one that we are willing to accept, one we are unwilling to postpone, and one we intend to win, and the others, too."

Abhishek Keshari
Sophomore

1st Year on Alabama Astrobotics
Subsystems: Electrical

I used to be a high school teacher. Now I am just a college kid.

Lara Kremer
Freshman

1st Year on Alabama Astrobotics

Subsystems: Mechanical
Definitely not sarcastic at all.

"If it ain't broke, it doesn't have enough moving parts."

Will Lage
Freshman

1st Year on Alabama Astrobotics
Subsystems: Mechanical
Prom Dance Competition Champion

"When you left, I was but the learned. Now, I am the master." -Darth Vader

Joseph Layton
Junior

2nd Year on Alabama Astrobotics

Subsystems: Mechanical
Stayed in Hungary for a month when I was 11 as part of CISV.

" 'You miss 100 percent of the shots you don't take' - Wayne Gretzky" - Michael Scott

Catarino Maldonado-Martinez
Senior

1st Year on Alabama Astrobotics

Subsystems: Electrical
Born in Omak, WA

V=RI

Mary Joanne Martin
Freshman

1st Year on Alabama Astrobotics

Subsystems: Mechanical

I can say the alphabet backwards in under 5 seconds

Chase Memmer
Freshman

1st Year on Alabama Astrobotics

Subsystems: Mechanical

Loves Labradors. Loves robots. Sorta concerned about loving robot Labradors.

Sara Norton
Freshman

1st Year on Alabama Astrobotics
Subsystems: Mechanical

I've met two U.S. Presidents

Tommy O’Brien
Sophomore

2nd Year on Alabama Astrobotics

Subsystems: Software, Outreach
I am from Owings, MD

“That’s one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind. -Neil Armstrong” -Michael Scott

Matthew Petry
Sophomore

2nd Year on Alabama Astrobotics

Subsystems: Electrical
Rides an electric scooter to all his classes

"Don't stick your finger in spinny bits. It hurts."

Tristan Phillips
Junior

1st Year on Alabama Astrobotics

Subsystems: Electrical

I play trombone

Jonathan Platt
Sophomore

2nd Year on Alabama Astrobotics

Subsystems: Electrical

I play trumpet in the University of Alabama Million Dollar Band

Shannon Rearden
Sophomore

1st Year on Alabama Astrobotics

Subsystems: Mechanical

I like to run marathons

Madeline Roman
Sophomore

2nd Year on Alabama Astrobotics

Subsystems: Mechanical

I was in color guard for 5 years.

Ian Seales
Sophomore

2nd Year on Alabama Astrobotics

Subsystems: Mechanical, Social Media

I’m in the MDB

Gregory Shipowitz
Freshman

1st Year on Alabama Astrobotics

Subsystems: Software

2nd degree black belt in TaeKwonDo

Grace Spotswood
Sophomore

2nd Year on Alabama Astrobotics

Subsystems: Mechanical, Outreach

I'm a master thrifter.

Anna Stevenson
Freshman

1st Year on Alabama Astrobotics

Subsystems: Mechanical

I conducted an internship at the United States Naval Test Pilot School, incorporating and testing a GPS-denied navigation system on a small unmanned aerial vehicle.

Chandler Tullis
Freshman

1st Year on Alabama Astrobotics

Subsystems: Mechanical
Can probably quote the entirety of the Star Wars prequel movies.

As cliche as it is, I hope to go to Mars someday. Humanity is about to open up a whole new era of space exploration, and I want to be a part of that. Gonna need a lot of hard work and some luck, so fingers crossed!

Brian Walker
Senior

3rd Year on Alabama Astrobotics

Subsystems: Mechanical
I really love barbecue.

Don't Panic

Tyler Zell
Senior

4th Year on Alabama Astrobotics

Subsystems: Mechanical