OUr mentors
Like all FIRST robotics teams, our team is guided by adult mentors who have expertise in a variety of areas. Our mentors teach us and offer invaluable guidance on technical skills, strategic decision-making, innovation, and gracious professionalism. They also prioritize FIRST's emphasis on team decisions being student-driven, making sure that our team's decisions are our own. Here is our 2025 mentor team:
Angelina Gallego - Coach and Lead Mentor
Hello everyone! My name is Angelina Gallego, and I am the coach of the MinuteBots. I am from Los Angeles and earned a B.S. degree in Physics from the illustrious HBCU Hampton University. I went to graduate school at the University of Minnesota, where I graduated with an M.Ed. in Science Education and an M.S. in Physics. My experience includes working for NASA on several missions and projects when I was an undergraduate student, and even now I still do projects for NRAO (National Radio Astronomy Observatory). I am also a part of the National Society of Black Physicists and the Black in Astro Program. I am excited to add new energy and Central pride to the team! I started teaching full-time at St. Paul Central High School in 2023, and I teach IB HL Physics, Accelerated Physics, and AP Physics C. I love my job, and I love being a part of this incredible team!
Hello everyone! My name is Angelina Gallego, and I am the coach of the MinuteBots. I am from Los Angeles and earned a B.S. degree in Physics from the illustrious HBCU Hampton University. I went to graduate school at the University of Minnesota, where I graduated with an M.Ed. in Science Education and an M.S. in Physics. My experience includes working for NASA on several missions and projects when I was an undergraduate student, and even now I still do projects for NRAO (National Radio Astronomy Observatory). I am also a part of the National Society of Black Physicists and the Black in Astro Program. I am excited to add new energy and Central pride to the team! I started teaching full-time at St. Paul Central High School in 2023, and I teach IB HL Physics, Accelerated Physics, and AP Physics C. I love my job, and I love being a part of this incredible team!
Denise Aldrich - Business Team Mentor
Denise is President and CEO of Red Ginger Studios, where she serves as a marketing and branding consultant to credit unions across the country. She previously studied art and Asian studies at Rice University in Houston, Texas and worked with several start-up tech companies. She currently serves as vice president for the MinuteBot Boosters organization.
Denise is President and CEO of Red Ginger Studios, where she serves as a marketing and branding consultant to credit unions across the country. She previously studied art and Asian studies at Rice University in Houston, Texas and worked with several start-up tech companies. She currently serves as vice president for the MinuteBot Boosters organization.
Mark Christenson - Programming Team Mentor
Mark is the owner and Principal Consultant at the Synaptic Group, an IT Consulting firm. He studied Computer Science, Aerospace Engineering and Electrical Engineering at the University of Minnesota. He mentors the MinuteBots programming team and serves as the current president of the MinuteBot Boosters organization.
Mark is the owner and Principal Consultant at the Synaptic Group, an IT Consulting firm. He studied Computer Science, Aerospace Engineering and Electrical Engineering at the University of Minnesota. He mentors the MinuteBots programming team and serves as the current president of the MinuteBot Boosters organization.
John Lavik - Build Team Mentor
John founded the MinuteBots team in 2013. He is a retired architect who found his passion for robotics too late to switch careers. Having retired from the team coach position in 2024, he is still an active mentor for the build team and assists students with the design and construction of their robots. He loves making stuff.
John founded the MinuteBots team in 2013. He is a retired architect who found his passion for robotics too late to switch careers. Having retired from the team coach position in 2024, he is still an active mentor for the build team and assists students with the design and construction of their robots. He loves making stuff.
Uriah Matznick - Build Team Mentor
Uriah is a Distributed Energy Resource Integration Engineer at Xcel Energy. He holds a A.A. in Hebrew from the Defense Language Institute, a B.E.E. from UMNTC and is currently pursuing a M.S. in Electrical Engineering - Power Systems from UW-Madison. He has participated in FIRST since 2010 and joined the MinuteBots in November of 2023.
Uriah is a Distributed Energy Resource Integration Engineer at Xcel Energy. He holds a A.A. in Hebrew from the Defense Language Institute, a B.E.E. from UMNTC and is currently pursuing a M.S. in Electrical Engineering - Power Systems from UW-Madison. He has participated in FIRST since 2010 and joined the MinuteBots in November of 2023.
David Orser - Programming Team Mentor
David is a Distinguished University Teaching Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering at the University of Minnesota. He has 10 years of industry experience from working at IBM and LSI (now Broadcom.) David has been with Minutes Bots since 2023 and a mentor in FIRST since 2014 (when his daughter roped him into it!) He loves to teach students how to make computers and machines do the work for us.
David is a Distinguished University Teaching Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering at the University of Minnesota. He has 10 years of industry experience from working at IBM and LSI (now Broadcom.) David has been with Minutes Bots since 2023 and a mentor in FIRST since 2014 (when his daughter roped him into it!) He loves to teach students how to make computers and machines do the work for us.
Heather Orser - Build and Programming Team Mentor
Heather Orser has been a mentor in FRC robotics for over 12 years, supporting teams in electronics, software, and robot builds. She has 15 years of experience working at IBM, Medtronic, and Inspire Medical Systems. Heather has been with MinuteBots since 2023 and is currently a professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering at the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul, MN.
Heather Orser has been a mentor in FRC robotics for over 12 years, supporting teams in electronics, software, and robot builds. She has 15 years of experience working at IBM, Medtronic, and Inspire Medical Systems. Heather has been with MinuteBots since 2023 and is currently a professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering at the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul, MN.
Jay Paska - Build Team Mentor
Jay Paska is a Solution Architect with Collins Aerospace, an RTX company, with responsibility for enterprise systems supporting international trade compliance. He has mentored with FIRST Tech Challenge and FIRST Robotics Competition teams since 2018.
Jay Paska is a Solution Architect with Collins Aerospace, an RTX company, with responsibility for enterprise systems supporting international trade compliance. He has mentored with FIRST Tech Challenge and FIRST Robotics Competition teams since 2018.
Aaron Sackett - Business Team Mentor
Aaron is Professor and Marketing Department Chair at the University of St. Thomas, with expertise in consumer behavior, persuasion, and social influence. He holds a B.A. in psychology from St. Olaf College and a Ph.D. in social psychology from Yale University. He helps the MinuteBots with communications, recruitment, fundraising, and professional presence.
Aaron is Professor and Marketing Department Chair at the University of St. Thomas, with expertise in consumer behavior, persuasion, and social influence. He holds a B.A. in psychology from St. Olaf College and a Ph.D. in social psychology from Yale University. He helps the MinuteBots with communications, recruitment, fundraising, and professional presence.
Dan Tuma - Build Team Mentor
Dan is Engineering Manager at Donaldson Company. He has over 30 years of engineering experience, most of that working on filtration for hard drives that has allowed for many international trips. He has his bachelor’s in mechanical engineering from the University of Minnesota. He has been a mentor since 2018 and brings CAD, machining, and woodworking skills to the team.
Dan is Engineering Manager at Donaldson Company. He has over 30 years of engineering experience, most of that working on filtration for hard drives that has allowed for many international trips. He has his bachelor’s in mechanical engineering from the University of Minnesota. He has been a mentor since 2018 and brings CAD, machining, and woodworking skills to the team.