Student Spotlight: Holli C, FTC Team 15450

For Holli C., a member of FIRST Tech Challenge Team 15450, Da Vinci Dragons Thunder, plays a critical role across nearly every aspect of her team. She serves as project manager, lead CAD engineer, lead 3D printer technician, intake facilitator, builder, and former head of outreach. Her FIRST journey began in 2018 when she joined FIRST LEGO League in fifth grade. She transitioned into FIRST Tech Challenge as a freshman in 2022 and has continued to grow her skills and leadership ever since!

One of Holli’s favorite FTC memories came when her team traveled to South Bend, Indiana. The experience allowed her to meet teams from across the country, each bringing unique perspectives, designs, and approaches to the same challenge. Seeing that diversity firsthand highlighted the collaborative nature of the FIRST community and reinforced that there is never just one right way to solve a problem.

Through FIRST in Texas, Holli has developed a wide range of technical skills, including 3D design, CAD modeling, and 3D printing. Just as impactful, however, are the non-technical skills she has gained. Leadership, teamwork, conflict resolution, communication, sales, and promotion have all become strengths through her FTC experience. These skills are not always taught in a traditional classroom, but FIRST provides opportunities to learn them through hands-on experience, often by learning from mistakes.

One such lesson came during a disagreement with a teammate about the robot’s progress. Holli was concerned about meeting deadlines, while her teammate felt her wording suggested their efforts were not being recognized. After stepping back and reflecting, Holli realized how her phrasing contributed to the conflict. She apologized, acknowledged her teammate’s hard work, and shared her concerns more clearly. Together, they developed a plan that balanced ambition with realistic expectations. This experience reinforced the importance of thoughtful communication and showed how compromise and collaboration lead to stronger outcomes.

Holli believes one of the most misunderstood aspects of FIRST is that FTC is not just about robots. While engineering is central, the program also teaches participants how to work effectively with others, speak confidently with new people, market ideas, and act professionally. These experiences have shaped her confidence and leadership skills and helped define who she is today.

Being part of FIRST has transformed how Holli views school, her future, and herself. The program introduced her to engineering beyond textbooks and helped her understand what the field looks like in practice. The values of Gracious Professionalism and Cooperition have become core principles that guide how she approaches challenges and how she plans to conduct herself as a future professional.

After high school, Holli plans to study biomedical engineering and hopes to one day work for NASA! With a strong passion for space and exploration, she credits FIRST in Texas with helping her discover these interests and giving her the confidence to pursue ambitious goals.

To students who are unsure about joining a FIRST program, Holli offers simple advice: give it a chance! There is everything to gain and nothing to lose. No matter what career path you choose, FIRST will teach skills that will benefit you for the rest of your life.