Volunteer Spotlight: Danna Taylor
What started as a way for Danna Taylor to support her children quickly grew into something much bigger. When her oldest son joined FIRST Robotics Competition Team 1296, Danna stepped in without an engineering background, simply looking for a way to help. That first step led her into fundraising, then into serving as an Impact mentor, and eventually into discovering a passion for judging. Since then, she has become a familiar and trusted presence across FIRST in Texas events, contributing as a judge in pit, Leadership, and Impact categories, and even serving at the FIRST Championship level evaluating the Impact Award.
Her involvement has only continued to grow. Danna recently stepped into learning the role of Judge Advisor and took on another critical position as a Volunteer Coordinator, helping ensure events run smoothly and that volunteers feel supported every step of the way.
She has seen teams she evaluated at the state level go on to become Impact Award Finalists and Rookie All-Star winners on the World Stage. She has watched students rise to the occasion, lead with confidence, and exceed expectations. And on a personal level, some of her most meaningful memories come from watching her own sons compete, including a senior-year run on Einstein and a long-awaited Impact Award win that meant everything to their team.
Her dedication has not gone unnoticed. At the 2025 Plano District Event, Danna was named Volunteer of the Year, a recognition that reflects the care, consistency, and passion she brings to every event.
What keeps her coming back is simple. The students. She is continually inspired by their creativity, their innovation, and the work they do beyond the robot. She values the opportunity to see the full picture of what teams are building, not just technically, but as communities and leaders. Every event leaves her energized and motivated to keep showing up.
That same passion for representation and opportunity led Danna to co-create STEM Gals, an off-season event designed to empower young women in robotics. Inspired by her own experience being told that her chances of success were limited, she wanted to create a space where students could see themselves in leadership roles. At STEM Gals, female students take the lead while their teammates support them in new ways, building confidence and strengthening teams as a whole.
The impact has continued to grow. What began as supporting a team has turned into shaping a community. Through every role she has taken on, Danna continues to create meaningful experiences for students and ensure that every participant has the chance to grow, lead, and succeed.