Meet the NASA SLI Team!

Hey There!!!

I'm Enzo Celis, the Student Project Leader.  I have always loved rocketry and space exploration and have always been fascinated by what we can accomplish in this amazing field.  It really blows my mind how incredible space exploration is, both what we have done in the past and where we are heading in the future.  That's why I decided to start the Granada Space Program Club at my school and then this rocketry group.  I am very excited to be in the NASA Student Launch Initiative this year.  I also launch my own rockets on the side, and even have my L1 Cert. 

A little more about me: I am a Senior in high school and besides rocketry, I also really love HAM Radio; I'm a General Class Licensee (callsign KN6KYX).  I really love playing soccer and FIFA when I have time.  You can also find me playing with my dog, Pumpkin.  

I really hope I get to meet you during our outreach events, and I really hope that our rocket launches will be as exciting and motivating to you as they are for me and the rest of the team every time we go flying!!

I'm Nicholas Ward, and I am the student Safety Officer as well as the team's co-lead. I've been working with Enzo as well as some of the other team members for the past couple of years on some other model rocketry projects and it has been so fun. The invitation for the NASA Student Launch Initiative was such a surprise and is a great opportunity for me as well as the rest of the team.

About me: I am a senior at Granada Hills Charter. In contrast to the more academic rocketry stuff I do, I love playing all sports, especially basketball and volleyball. On top of that, I love working out and playing video games.

Hi! I’m Leah Atienza, and I’m the Design lead. I’ve worked with the other members for a while on rocketry related things, so when I heard that they qualified for the NASA Student Launch Initiative, I knew I had to join. Being a part of this team is the best learning experience I’ve ever had, and I look forward to the work ahead!

Other information: I’m a sophomore, and I like drawing, Pokémon, and drawing Pokémon. I like playing other video games as well, along with going outside once in a while.

Hi! I am Sofia Celis, the Social Media and STEM Outreach Lead!

I really love designing and art, so that is why I love creating cool designs for our social media posts. I also love to be creative in many ways.  That is why I am also in charge of our YouTube, where we will soon post rocketry videos, as well as this website where I can design freely. I really hope that you enjoy my work and continue to look forward to it in the future. I decided to join the team because I find the whole topic of STEM to be very intriguing and fun. I believe that once you find something that you love in STEM, then you will continue having a good experience with it.

More about me:

I am a freshman in high school, I love to do anything art related such as pottery, drawing, and painting.  On my free time, I enjoy drawing and creating things that I can use as decoration or to give to others. I love spending time with my dog named Luna (who's also named Pumpkin). I love musicals and acting because everything seems so real in live theatre. I also enjoy playing video games during my free time, and I am inspired by each of their unique art styles to teach myself more about art. 

Hey, I'm Isabella!  I'm the business and finance lead for the team.  I'm most fortunate to be working with this group during the 2021-22 Student Launch Initiative.  Although my encounter with rocketry started much later than business, the learning experience has been wonderful so far, and I'm looking forward to working through whatever challenges might approach us in the near future.  These opportunities restore my faith in the future generations of space exploration.

I'm currently a sophomore in high school and besides the team, I dedicate my free time to watching a lot of movies and hanging out with friends.  It'd be cool if we can expand the wonderful world of rocketry to more people the same way it was spread to me.

I am Theophilus Pan, and I am the team's scientific payload lead. I have always been interested in math and science. When I found out that I could apply these disciplines in launching rockets, I was stoked. I look forward to participating in the NASA Student Launch Initiative. I am so thankful to be given such an opportunity and hope to further my passion for rocketry and science through this challenge.

About me: I am a senior at Granada Hills Charter High School. Other than launching rockets, I like to play piano and clarinet, go out on hikes with my family, and watch anime.

I am Arthur Sun, and I am the team's recovery lead. I have always been interested in STEM, and I have been working with members of this team for quite a while now. After the TARC competitions, I was shocked at how well we preformed, and that we were able to compete in the NASA Student Launch Initiative. Being able to launch rockets has really been rewarding for me personally, and I hope that continues in the future.

About me: Currently, I am a senior attending Granada Hills Charter High School. My STEM interests include biology and physics. I enjoy sports, reading and playing video games in my free time.

Hi!  I am Benjamin Sun.  I am the newest member on the team.  My job is helping with the recovery system.  
About me:  I am a freshman at Granada Hills Charter High School.  I like to play video games, read, and play violin.

Hello there!  I am Ian Ton, and I am the vehicle design co-lead.  I have been working with many of the members of this team for a long time on various model rocketry projects and have learned many things along the way.  At first, my knowledge about rocketry was limited, but as time passed, I was able familiarize myself with and deepen my knowledge in rocketry and aerospace.  Overall the experience has been one of a kind, and I am happy to take part in it.

About me:  I'm a senior at Granada Hills Charter High School, and I play competitive tennis, volunteer, and play the piano.  I also love backpacking and canoeing.

Hi, my name is Nick Zhao, and I am currently in my last year at Granada Hills Charter High SchooCharismatic and charming, I always excel in whatever task I am given. Mastery does not even begin to describe my comprehension of electronic systems. I surround myself with intellectuals of similar merit as me and tries my very best to help them succeed to my level. Of course, rocketry has always been a passion of mine and with my level of ingenuity it is only natural that I became acquainted with this hobby. The NASA Student launch initiative to me is nothing but a small side project that I likes to work on to see if it is of any challenge to me, as many of the other worldly challenges seem stale to me.    About me: Natural prowess for videogame, tendency for others to draw themselves to me, unimaginable beauty, participates in vigorous exercise daily.