Team 5401's Mentors
KeviN McKay
founding mENTOR
Kevin is an American martial artist, actor, film producer and screenwriter...just kidding! He's a 2001 & 2005 graduate of Drexel University with a BS in Electrical & Computer Engineering and an MS in Electrical Engineering & Engineering Management. He's also a 2010 graduate of Temple University with a MBA and a Juris Doctorate. He currently works at Boeing as an Aerospace Systems Engineer and co-founded the team in 2014 with his good friend, and fellow Boeing employee, Andy Windhausen to help Bensalem students build Skynet.
Mentor Since: 2014
Why do you LOVE Team 5401? IDK it's what I do on Wednesdays.
Is there a phrase/saying you are known for on the team? Play the game, not something like the game.
I can't get through Build Season without...having a meltdown!
Random fun fact: I can't tell time.
KATHY SEIDMAN
SAFETY & INTEGRATION
Kathy has 20 years experience with Dow as a process engineer. Over her career she has worked in manufacturing and research for multiple business units. During the 2021-2022 build season, she expanded her role on the team and assisted with the integration and electrical sub-teams. She now gets to bring her safety experience to a more hands-on role. Additionally, Kathy mentors the Bensalem FLL and FTC robotics teams. It's very exciting to see how much our Bensalem students get to grow through the FIRST robotics programs!
Mentor Since: 2019
Why do you LOVE Team 5401? The students!!! It's so amazing to see what they are able to in just a few months. It is hard to believe they are just high school students with all that they can accomplish. For me, it's very rewarding to help support their ideas and to help inspire the next generation. Both of my daughters are now part of the team, so it's extra special being able to share this experience with them.
Is there a phrase/saying you are known for on the team? Not that I can think of
I can't get through Build Season without... Lots of diet coke!
Random fun fact: I love playing video games! I've logged countless hours on my PlayStation and have even taken vacation days just to play the latest releases.
Virginia MCKay
Lead Mentor
Virginia joined the team in 2015 as a way to spend quality time with her husband, Kevin. She's a 2006 graduate of Stony Brook University with a BS in Political Science & American History and currently works as a Senior Associate for an insurance company. In the robotics lab she can be found doing a wide variety of things from writing press releases and organizing team travel to teaching students to how to analyze data in Excel/Tableau.
Mentor Since: 2015. I joined halfway through Recycle Rush season.
Why do you LOVE Team 5401? I love it because of the positive, and in some cases, life-changing, impact it has on the students fortunate enough to be a part of the FRO family.
Is there a phrase/saying you are known for on the team? "Fun fact..." followed by a truly useless but interesting fact.
I can't get through Build Season without... lots of coffee!
Random fun fact: I did a very brief stint as batgirl for the New York Yankees during their 1993 season.
KATHERINE MATVEKYINA
OPERATIONS & OUTREACH
Katherine has been involved with Team 5401 since her Sophomore year of high school in 2017. She graduated from BHS in 2019 after being PM. When she was a student on the team, she led the first serious submission of the entrepreneurship award. For school she went to Drexel for business and engineering, graduating in 2023. As a mentor she's also involved with scouting/data analytics, impact award submission, business plan, and outreach initiatives.
Mentor Since: 2021
Why do you LOVE Team 5401? Team 5401 attracts all the kindest and most hardworking students from BHS, being around them is always a gift.
I can't get through Build Season without... peach mango green tea celsius.
Random fun fact: I collect pokemon cards, follow @stinkycardboard on Instagram!
STEVE ROSENBERG
FABRICATION & INTEGRATION
Born and raised in the Heavy Duty Towing/Recovery field. I have Mechanical and Problem solving experience. I'm a DIY tinkerer.
Mentor Since: Recycle Rush as a Parent, Stronghold as a Mentor
Why do you LOVE Team 5401? I enjoy helping and watching Students eyes light up when they understand and learn something they never thought they could.
Is there a phrase/saying you are known for on the team? We need to Rosenberg it!
I can't get through Build Season without...Pizza, of course!
Random fun fact: I never went to college!
JIM WINWARD
INTEGRATION & ELECTRICAL
Jim has a B.S. in Electrical Engineering from Drexel University and is employed by NSWCPD (Naval Surface Warfare Center Philadelphia Division) where he has over 30 years experience working with U.S. Navy shipboard machinery systems. He has been a mentor since the 2018-19 season, after being introduced to robotics when his son joined the team. He is a mentor for the electrical team which he started in the 2019-20 season.
Mentor Since: 2018- Deep Space
Why do you LOVE Team 5401? I was impressed with the FIRST organization, the robotics competitions, and with what the Bensalem students accomplished. The students gained near real world experience in design, fabrication, software development, and assembly of a working robot. This experience will serve them well as they advance through college and enter the job market.
Is there a phrase/saying you are known for on the team? No but I admire the spirit of "gracious professionalism" which is a guiding belief of the FIRST Robotics Competition.
I can't get through Build Season without...Coffee for every meeting. Doughnuts on Saturday.
Random fun fact: My wife volunteered me for the team at the first parents meeting (so she cannot complain when I am gone for 4 days per week during build season Ha Ha).
Jimmy "Jimmy James" Kane
SOFWARE, SAFEY AND PROJECT MANAGEMENT
Jimmy James has been involved in Team 5401 since his freshman year of high school in 2015, when the team was founded. While he was a student on the team, he helped create the teams’ safety program where he served as the first safety captain & his senior year he served as the second Program Manager. For school he went to Penn State Main to study Human-Centric Design and Development and currently works for Ford Motor Company as a Software Engineer.
Mentor Since: 2023
Why do you LOVE Team 5401? The team gave me my passion for engineering & was a family to all throughout high school. I hope now as a mentor I can give back & inspire those feels into the next generation of FROlings.
Is there a phrase/saying you are known for on the team? “Awesome!”, “The Philadelphia <insert team name here> is going to win <insert name of championship>”, “Go Birds”, “WE ARE”
I can't get through Build Season without...Not being involved with the build as Bensalem Event Coordinator.
Random fun fact: I am a second degree black belt & teach karate to kids and adults 3 years old & older. I also work for the Philadelphia Eagles.
Mac McLendon
ASSEMBLY
Mentor Since: 2021
Why do you LOVE Team 5401? I love the challenge that it provides for the participants, teaching them many of the skills needed in a real working environment. Also the opportunity to help build the robot and help the team gain knowledge in areas they might not otherwise have the opportunity to use.
Is there a phrase/saying you are known for on the team? Where did my team go!?!?
I can't get through Build Season without... The laughter and comradery that the teams provides.
Random fun fact: 50 % of my immediate family of 10 is left handed. 9.2% is the national average.
James Chi
Fabrication
Just your average 20-something-year-old human. I work at Raytheon/Collins aerospace as a test engineer, where I was introduced to robotics by one of my coworkers. In my free time, I do action photography and break things in my shed.
Mentor Since: August 2022
Why do you LOVE Team 5401?
It’s incredible watching the young folk solve problems and create something together as a messy yet somehow organized collective.
Is there a phrase/saying you are known for on the team?
“What’s the worst that can happen?”
I can't get through Build Season without...
food lots and lots of food
Random fun fact:
I raise chickens, yes they are delicious
Natalie Ralston
DESIGN MENTOR
I'm a FROlum and founding team member, happy to be back and ignite the same passion for STEM in students that this team has done for me in years past.
Mentor Since: 2023
Why do you LOVE Team 5401? The team has always been a home for me, always welcoming and willing to lend a helping hand to its members, mentors, and community.
Is there a phrase/saying you are known for on the team? I'm good for supplying sound effects when words won't suffice.
I can't get through Build Season without... Espresso
Random fun fact: When times get tough, I always love coloring to destress.
Sam McKay
SHOP DOG
I spent the first few years of my life living in a junkyard so I kinda feel at home here.
Mentor Since: 2023
Why do you LOVE Team 5401? They welcomed me with open arms and give the best head scritches!
Is there a phrase/saying you are known for on the team? Bark! Bark!
I can't get through Build Season without... French Fries!!
Random fun fact: I am super scared of loud noises but don't mind the noise in the shop & lab at all!
TOBY MCKAY
SHOP DOG
I am a firm believer that dogs make the world a happier & better place. I come to the robotics lab as often as my humans will let me, and as often as the students will tolerate me, to make everyone's day just a little better.
Mentor Since: 2019
Why do you LOVE Team 5401? They give the best head scratches & belly rubs. Also- they have a firm no cats allowed policy.
Is there a phrase/saying you are known for on the team? "Arf! Arf! Bork!!"
I can't get through Build Season without...barking my little head off, annoying everyone in the lab.
Random fun fact: I love to eat Safety Glasses!