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See our Impact
How our Alumni have found success through FIRST in Arkansas
Alumni Highlights
Ellen Timmerman
Ellen started her robotics career as an FLL member on one of her older sister’s teams. After joining team 5006, she led countless outreach initiatives from raising thousands of dollars for children overcoming abuse to mentoring her own FLL teams. As team captain, she made 5006 known around the world with award winning robotics parodies. She’s always loved integrating art into the technical world, and became the head of UI/UX design at JeTFiN innovations LLC. Now, she mentors team 5006 and consistently volunteers at FTC and FRC competitions. She’s the leader of communications for FIRST in Arkansas, continuing to advocate for art and design in robotics. Ellen proves that robotics is far from just winning, it’s lifelong friendships and proof that individuals with every interest can succeed in STEM.
Robbie Prettyman
Robbie participated on a FLL team for 3 years and was on FRC 5006 for 4. He continually refs at FLL and FTC competitions throughout Arkansas even as a college student. Robbie now works for a startup 3D printer company, using the knowledge he gained from FIRST everyday, in both his mechanical engineering classes and the workplace.
John Taylor Novak
Growing up surrounded by FIRST, JT has spent over 2 decades as a student, mentor, and volunteer. As an award-winning mechanical engineering student at MIT, he started JeTFiN Innovations, a Product Design/Manufacturing firm.
Starting in FIRST when he was four, he grew up in FRC and FTC, and has helped run countless competitions. He led the 2013 Macy’s Thanksgiving parade with his team's robot and went on to start his own FRC and FTC team while studying mechanical engineering at MIT. There, he earned multiple awards for his contributions in robotics and to the Department of Defense. With this knowledge, he created his own company that breaks the boundaries of typical engineering firms by combining the manufacturing and design process into one centralized consulting firm. He’s mentored and sponsored 2 FRC teams and an FTC team and is an active volunteer at competitions.
Starting in FIRST when he was four, he grew up in FRC and FTC, and has helped run countless competitions. He led the 2013 Macy’s Thanksgiving parade with his team's robot and went on to start his own FRC and FTC team while studying mechanical engineering at MIT. There, he earned multiple awards for his contributions in robotics and to the Department of Defense. With this knowledge, he created his own company that breaks the boundaries of typical engineering firms by combining the manufacturing and design process into one centralized consulting firm. He’s mentored and sponsored 2 FRC teams and an FTC team and is an active volunteer at competitions.
Audrey Timmerman
As a founding member of FRC team 5006, Audrey designed and built an image processor which helped her earn a job leading a division at a fortune 500 company.
When she was only 16, Audrey started and mentored 4 FLL teams simultaneously across NWA. That summer, she traveled to Uganda, installing bicycle generator boards that provide accessible electricity to the whole community. She showed them how to build and install water filters so the families and schools would have easy access to clean water. Now, she’s a senior app developer in Tyson’s emerging tech division where she works on their AI and tracking systems.
When she was only 16, Audrey started and mentored 4 FLL teams simultaneously across NWA. That summer, she traveled to Uganda, installing bicycle generator boards that provide accessible electricity to the whole community. She showed them how to build and install water filters so the families and schools would have easy access to clean water. Now, she’s a senior app developer in Tyson’s emerging tech division where she works on their AI and tracking systems.
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