Alumni Spotlight: Kati Duran

For Kati Duran, FIRST was where she grew up, discovered her voice, and built the confidence to pursue a future in engineering. Her journey began in fourth grade when she joined her elementary school’s FIRST LEGO League team. With the program still new and lacking faculty support, her dad stepped in as coach, teaching himself programming, design, and strategy alongside the team. What started as a family effort quickly became a passion. As rookies, they placed second in the robot game at regionals, and Kati continued through FLL, eventually competing at the World Festival in Houston.

She carried that momentum into middle school through FIRST Tech Challenge and later took an even bigger leap. When her future high school lost its faculty sponsor, Kati and her best friend started their own team and convinced her dad to coach once again. Their first season was full of learning curves, but they qualified for the World Championship before it was canceled due to COVID. Determined to keep growing, Kati continued pushing forward and was later named a Dean’s List Finalist. The following year, her team returned to the world stage.

After graduating, Kati did not step away. She stepped up.

Through mentoring, outreach, and volunteering, she discovered how meaningful it was to support younger students. Watching the students she mentored grow into leaders and eventually win a state championship reinforced her desire to stay involved as a volunteer, mentor, and FiT Fellow.

Today, Kati is a third-year biomedical engineering student at the University of Texas at Austin, building her technical and research skills while exploring ways engineering can improve healthcare and patient outcomes. She credits FIRST with giving her a strong foundation in problem solving, teamwork, and resilience that continues to guide her academic journey.

Reflecting on her experience, Kati shares that one of the most lasting impacts of FIRST was learning to believe in herself. Over time, she learned to trust her ideas, step into leadership roles, and embrace challenges without fear of failure. Those lessons continue to shape how she approaches school, teamwork, and future goals. As a Hispanic woman pursuing engineering, Kati also found a deep sense of belonging through the FIRST community. Being supported by teammates and mentors helped her recognize that her perspective is a strength and that she has a place in STEM and leadership spaces.

The relationships she built along the way remain some of the most meaningful in her life. Friendships formed through long build seasons, competitions, and shared challenges continue to provide encouragement and connection long after graduation.The values of Gracious Professionalism, innovation, and teamwork guide her every day, from collaborating on projects to supporting others in challenging moments.

When asked what advice she would give students, Kati encourages them to embrace challenges, try new roles, and stay curious. Some of the most important lessons, she says, come from things not going as planned. And for alumni wondering whether to reconnect, her message is simple: you do not need to have everything figured out to make a difference. Showing up, sharing your experiences, and supporting students can have a lasting impact while reconnecting you with a community that helped shape who you are.

Kati’s story is a reminder that the FIRST journey does not end at graduation. It continues through the people you inspire, the paths you pursue, and the community you help build.