The man himself! Nick Anaya is an engineering and robotics teacher at Lindblom HS. Before teaching, he worked as a professional electrical engineer and began volunteering with Lindblom’s robotics team in 2008, helping students design and build robots. In 2017 he switched careers to teach full time and has worked to create one of the best engineering programs in CPS. He currently mentors several FIRST Robotics teams across FLL, FTC, and FRC, helps run robotics events and shared practice spaces for schools in Chicago, and supports student groups like NSBE Jr., SHPE Jr., and STEMinists so students can meet role models and build strong networks. In 2025, Nick received the prestigious Golden Apple Award for Excellence in Teaching for his impact on students and STEM education in Illinois. His work focuses on making STEM welcoming for everyone and showing students that engineering is not just about building machines but also about helping their communities grow and thrive. 

Leading FRC Team 1781 as the Awards Mentor and Drive Coach, especially for the Impact Award, Kori Bowns-Kamphuis, also known as Ms. BK, has been an active part of the FIRST community since high school, being an alumna of team 2903.  Ms. BK has mentored many First teams. Besides being well-versed in the world of First Robotics, Ms. BK also teaches physics at Lindblom Math and Science Academy. Ms. BK says that her reason for mentoring in First is to "give back as much to FIRST as I've gotten out of it" and belives that "FIRST can be life-changing, and it's great to be able to help more students be a part of it". 

Paul DeRonne "love[s] robotics and the format of the FIRST competition", and though he had not mentored any teams before, Mr. DeRonne's mechanical expertise and passion for robotics has helped to inspire students over the years. In fact, Mr. DeRonne said that his favorite part of being a mentor is "watching student's confidence and abilities grow". Mr. DeRonne said that he chose to mentor at Lindblom because of the student's high degree of freedom.  First coming to Lindbloom FRC Team 1781 in the year 2018, Mr. DeRonne has been a valuable member of the team since. 

Serving as another one of the mechanical mentors, Deronne makes sure that all students have something to do, from sorting screws to cutting out parts for a robot, he also makes sure that students do it safely. Deronne joined Lindblom robotics in 2019.

 From working at the Cook County Treasurers Office to Loyal University, suffice to say that Keith Van Rhein, or Mr. KVR, is quite knowledgeable in the world of Computer Science. After 17 years of teaching at Kelly High School, 10 years of teaching college Computer Science, and after working as a Computer Programmer Mr. KVR, joined Lindblom FRC Team 1781 in the year 2020, just in time for the Infinite Recharge game. Mr. KVR says he joined because he likes "designing and building. Robotics is a great way to teach students how to build and design" and imparts programming knowledge onto Lindblom FRC Team 1781's programmers.

KVR is responsible in educating eagles on how to program the robots on our team. KVR joined Lindblom robotics in 2020.

Even though he had no prior exerience, Mike Ulinski is currently the Lindblom FRC Team 1781 Mentor whom has been on the team for the longest, dating all the way back to 2007, one year after the team was first established. Filling the role of "Co-Lead Mentor", Mr. Ulinski came to Lindblom and mentored team 1781 for two reasons, "It was near public transportation" and "Dean Kamen's[founder of FIRST] keynote address at the NI Week '06 conference"

Mike is a mentor who has been on the team for the longest time out of the other current mentors mentioned above, joining the team in early 2008 before Anaya. Mike specializes most in mechanical and is usually seen in the Innovation Lab.