Senior Spotlight '26 Part 1!

Isabel S. is a senior at Mattawan High School and has been involved in robotics for 7 years and part of the Stryke Force programs for 5 years. She is currently this year’s Scouting and Business Team, and Student Ambassador/Sponsor Communications Lead. She describes her many roles as the "behind the scenes" work that goes into the robotics team such as fundraising, social media presence, and data compilation. The initial spark for joining the team started with being the typical younger sibling. Maxwell, her older brother, was involved in Stryke Force as a programming student. Isabel would go to her older brother’s robotics competitions and watch from the sidelines and be in awe of how inspiring it was to watch the robot zoom across the field. This spark quickly came ablaze when she joined the NRG program through Stryke Force in 5th grade, then transitioned to FTC through her school’s program. Then, once entering her high school years, Isabel quickly learned that she could be involved in the program without being directly involved with the mechanical and programming aspects, which is how she fits into her roles today. She comments, “The diverse opportunities to still be involved and market a program that directly impacts and shapes students’ future careers is an amazing movement to be a part of, which is my favorite aspect about my various involvements.” She also reflects on what she’s learned, “The biggest takeaway from this program is how it directly impacts our futures through learning in a way that encourages creativity, innovation, and dedication. These skills are crucial and cannot be taught, and I’m immensely grateful for the knowledge instilled in me from this program.” Isabel’s favorite FRC game is Reefscape because of the constantly evolving strategies formed throughout the season, which made every competition seem different than the last. On the topic of favorites, her favorite memory while being on the team would have to be securing a major sponsor, and also the many friendships and connections made along the way. Isabel plans to take her next steps by attending college at Michigan State University and majoring in marketing. We are so grateful for her contributions to our team over the years, and we can’t wait to see where life takes her next!

Aleks L. is a homeschooled senior, taking courses at Kalamazoo Valley Community College, and has been involved in Stryke Force’s FRC program for four years. His many roles include being both the Build and CAD Team Leads, and also the “Pit Boss.” In his various roles, Aleks oversees all of the build and design processes. For his competition role, the Pit Boss is essentially the main leadership role at competitions, whose job is to fix the robot and get it ready for its next match. What inspired him to join Stryke Force was his brother initially being apart of the team ten years ago, and in typical younger sibling fashion, he followed in his brother's footsteps and joined the team. Aleks reflects on his biggest takeaway from the program: "Make sure to ask good questions and don't assume stuff." Crescendo is Alek's favorite FRC game because it was on of the most strategical games, and he found it the most fun to watch as a spectator. When reflecting over his experiences at robotics, his favorite memory would have to be watching the algae steal auto being deployed on the Einstein Field at Worlds during Reefscape in 2025. Alek's future plans include attending Western Michigan University in the fall and majoring in mechanical engineering. We are very appreciative of Aleks’s impact on our program, and we wish him the best of luck on his next chapter!