Mentorship, Design, & Impact at FRC Championships
Joining the Team
In November 2023, I was recruited to mentor Mountlake Terrace High School’s Chill Out robotics team. It began with one freshman designer, Allison, aiming to elevate her branding for the FIRST Robotics Competition (FRC) Championship in Houston, a stage they’ve reached three years running (2022/23, 2023/24 & 2024/25).
Crescendo Season
For the 2023–24 Crescendo music-themed season, Allison created the boombox Chilly mascot and seasonal merchandise (shirts, buttons).
Banner Blunder & Lesson
We produced two large banners, funded by a $1,000 Lynnwood Rotary grant. An RGB-to-CMYK error left them magenta-heavy. I turned it into a lesson for Allison on color conversion, securing a second $1,000 Rotary grant and a vendor discount (leveraging my Lynnwood Rotary ties) to reprint without team cost.
Allison and I designed this The North End Practice Field banner (15' x 3') that hangs at the Old Alderwood Middle School gym, used as a testing course by 15+ robotics teams across north Puget Sound. This and the Pit Banner was reprinted due to magenta-heavy RGB-to-CMYK error.
– Practice Field space is donated by Edmonds School District, hosted by Chill Out & Royal Robotics. –
Houston Shirt
Allison and I designed the 2024 Houston shirt with sleek italic typography, ditching the snow font to establish a bold new visual language. This design set Chill Out’s updated branding standard, enhancing team identity and marketing impact.
– 2024 Houston Shirt front –
– 2024 Pride Shirt front –
– 2025 Season Jersey front –
– 2025 Houston Shirt front –
Reefscape Season
In 2024–25’s Reefscape season (underwater conservation), we designed a diving Chilly mascot and Holland America sponsor poster, blending Holland America's Operation Oceans Alive with FIRST’s ocean cleanup theme.
– Poster approved by Holland America. –
Our team was recently showcased on KCTS9 Cascade PBS's Newsfeed, with the Graphic Design Team’s branding prominently featured throughout the segment, highlighting Chill Out’s bold visual identity.
Fundraising
I secured $10,000 in grants for 2024–25 Houston travel—$2,500 Rotary grants each for Chill Out and Royal Robotics, matched by FoundationESD. In 2023–24, I built the marketing collateral to fundraise for the Houston trip, helping the team raise $15,000, and I personally raised an additional $5,000 ($2,500 non-Rotary, matched by FoundationESD).
Allison's Impact
I ignited Allison’s passion which led her to enroll in graphic design classes in her Sophomore year, and recruit new teammates for 2024/25. Our 2024 Imagery Award reflects this growth.
Pictured left to right are most of our graphics team: Charli, Quinn, Allison, Trooper, Oliver, Kyle, Haze, Lili with fellow mentor Maura.
Impact & Metrics
This project blends mentorship, design, and PM to empower Chill Out’s national stage presence. From $17,000 in grants to Allison’s team growth, I drive creative ops and PM for education.
Students impacted
Grants 2024-25 Season for
Chill Out & Royal Robots travel costs
to the Championship in Houston
Grants 2023-24 Season for
Chill Out travel costs
to the Championship in Houston
Grants in 2023-24 Season for
Chill Out pit banner & North Sound Practice Field banner
and one big lesson
Skills
Tech Project Management
Coordinated team, timelines, and $17,000 in grants under tight FRC deadlines, expanding Chill Out’s networks via Rotary and FoundationESD contacts.
Creative Operations
Led branding projects: Boombox Chilly, Diving Chilly, SubZero, seasonal and mentors’ merchandise, Holland America poster, while teaching students Adobe Creative Suite workflows.
Vocational Educator
Mentored Allison’s graphic design passion, tied to my SkillsUSA experience; guided ~15 Chill Out seniors to Scholarship Alliance applications; and tought real-world problem-solving and design skills.