Alumni Spotlight:
Fiona Turett
Graduated in 2006
What years were you on the team and what did you do?
2002 – 2006 FIRST seasons. I mostly did mechanical design and building work, as well as electrical wiring. I really enjoyed the hands-on aspects of the robotics program. I was the captain and driver for the girls competition team.
Where did you go to school? Majors?
Washington University in St. Louis – graduated in 2009 with a degree in mechanical engineering. I also completed a minor in aerospace engineering.
What are you doing today?
I currently work at NASA’s Johnson Space Center as a System Safety Engineer. I work on the space shuttle energy systems, which includes all engines, thrusters, and hydraulic power. My job is to assess and document risks associated with my subsystems, as well as to provide operations support during shuttle flights.
Did being on the robotics team have an impact on you? How?
Yes, being on the team definitely impacted the path I chose to pursue in college and beyond. Robotics was the first activity which made me realize I was interested in engineering. I had never really had an opportunity to design and build much before then, but once I got involved I realized how much I enjoyed it. My experience with robotics also helped me secure a NASA internship between high school and college, and allowed me to get involved with a student-run nanosatellite project as a college freshman. The opportunities which my robotics experience opened up for me have been amazing and have ultimately led me to where I am today.
Aim High
Aim High consisted of three teams from two alliances. They had to compete to gain points by delivering balls into goals and by positioning their robots at key locations throughout the field to garner points.
There were 33 regional events held this year, culminating in the championships in the Georgia Dome.
The AdamBots in 2006:
In 2006, the AdamBots won a Regional Chairman’s Award, and Mr. Hildebrandt was honored with a Regional Woodie Flowers Award! The robot this year was named “Elizabeth”, meaning God is perfection.
