Our Mentors
Terrence Lupo
Occupation: Student, UCCS
What inspired you to join FIRST: My interest in engineering drove me to join the team in high school. The fun caused me to come back!
What do you love about your job: Learning new, complex things
Most exciting project: Anything I am currently doing
Favorite drink/food/band: Monster, steak, 3OH!3 or Mariana’s Trench
What do you like about working with the team: Being able to learn through teaching. The kids in FTC teach me alot about myself.
David Donahue
Occupation: Student at Coronado High School
What inspired you to join FIRST: I was invited to the FLL in 8th grade.
What do you love about your job: I love programming!!
Most exciting project: getting the robot to shoot
Favorite drink/food/band: Pepsi, steak, Seventh Day Slumber
What do you like about working with the team: I want to see these guys succeed.
Eric Luther
Occupation: Student at Coronado High School
What inspired you to join FIRST: I like robotics 
What do you love about your job: being able to teach and mentor people, and CADing
Most exciting project: building the robots
Favorite drink/food/band: Pepsi, chocolate, Rascal Flatts
What do you like about working with the team: being able to help people and CAD parts
Zachery Finley
Occupation: student at Coronado High School
What inspired you to join FIRST: the scholarship opportunities
What do you love about your job: inspiring kids
Most exciting project: FLL Regional Competition
Favorite drink/food/band: Sprite, Chipolte burritos, Skillet
What do you like about working with the team: the relationships
Ms. Williams
Occupation: Biology Teacher
What inspired you to join FIRST: I have always been fascinated by robots. I remember watching shows like the “Jetsons” and “Lost in Space,” as a child, thinking how “cool” it would be to have my own personal robot. Seeing some of the earlier FIRST competitions rekindled my fascination with robots. I can still remember the day I learned Mr. McLean and Mr. Hilty were actually going to start a FIRST Team at Coronado. I knew I had to be involved somehow.
What do you love about your job: I love teaching biology!
Most exciting project: Last summer I had the opportunity to get involved with a group of teachers at MIT who share my interest in synthetic biology which seeks to apply lessons from engineering disciplines (i.e. electrical and mechanical engineering) to biology. Yes, even in biology, students can design, construct and analyze engineered biological systems.
Favorite drink/food/band: Starbucks (Carmel Macchiato)/Breakfast/ Christian Music
What do you like about working with the team: The energy the team generates as they are coming up with new ideas for the robot. I am always amazed at how the team is able to take all the different parts they have to work with and come up with a functional robot designed to accomplish the particular tasks specified by the game.
Aaron Filonowich
Occupation: Software Developer
What inspired you to join FIRST: I was brought in because my son joined the robotics team at Coronado High School. Being an engineer myself, I was intrigued by the whole idea and quickly was drawn to it.
What do you love about your job: problem solving
Most exciting project: building an international network monitoring system
Favorite drink/food/band: iced tea, pizza, Matchbox 20
What do you like about working with the team: I enjoy working with these bright young minds. From years of being an engineer, I have a certain way of going about solving a problem. These students continuously amaze me on how they think outside the box to solve problems and get the job done. It excites me to think what these kids can accomplish in the future.
Gary Hilty
Occupation: Pre-Engineering/Applied Technology Teacher
What inspired you to join FIRST: Teaching pre-engineering myself, I was intrigued by the whole idea and quickly was drawn to it. It just seemed to be a natural fit with the engineering classes.
What do you love about your job: Teaching students problem solving skills and the engineering program. I love to see the students working hands-on and to see the growth in the students.
Most exciting project: Building the Gateway to Technology (GTT) middle school programs for D-11.
Favorite drink/food/band: diet Coke-A-Cola, good steak, Eagles
What do you like about working with the team: I enjoy working with these bright young minds and talent. The students contunuously amaze me on how they think outside the box to solve problems and get the job done. It excites me to think what these kids can accomplish in the future and be a part of such a great team.