Mission: DICE - About Us

Our Team

This is Mission: DICE, where we aim to Design, Innovate, Create, and Educate. Our goal is to bring the knowledge of 3D modeling to students of grades 4-9. We do this by conducting interesting and interactive workshops where we explore the possibilities when art and technology come together. We would love to work with libraries, schools, and individuals to set up workshops and introduce the love for technology in our communities.

Aditya Dutt
Founder and President

Hi! I founded Mission: DICE in 2019 to spread my love for technology and creativity. I’ve spent many summers at the Makers Space at the Piscataway Library learning from my mentor, Doug Baldwin and his team. It is now time for me to give back to the community. Being exposed to new technologies at a very young age lit a spark in me that has given me a passion for engineering. With the help of Mission: DICE, I intend on passing that spark on to other students.

I am currently in 12th grade at the Middlesex County Academy for Science, Mathematics, and Engineering Technologies. I have competed and won awards at the RobocupJunior National competitions, Hackathons, Science Olympiads, and the NASA App Development Challenge(ADC). I work with autonomous robots using platforms like Arduino, Raspberry Pi, and custom circuits. I work as a Webots instructor at Storming Robots, and am a member of their development team for the Rescue Sim Platform. I also have experience with various 3D modeling software like Blender, Tinkercad, Autodesk Inventor, OpenSCAD, and others. In my free time, I like to play violin and act onstage.

Shelby Hilarczyk
Content Manager and Instructor

I am a 10th grader attending Middlesex Country Academy for Science, Mathematics, and Engineering Technologies. I am passionate about spreading interest in STEM within the youth of my community and educating students. I have experience working with 3D software like SolidWorks. I skateboard, run, and read in my free time.

Manasi Vartak
Community Outreach and Advocacy Manager

I am currently in 11th grade at the Middlesex County Academy. I was introduced to CAD at a young age and throughout high school, I have been working with SolidWorks and Visual Studio, developing my knowledge of coding, mathematics, and design software. My goal is to spread my passion and get others as excited about engineering as I am. Currently, I am actively involved with the community through volunteering, and with Mission: DICE, am using what I have learned to try and make a meaningful impact on others. Outside of school, I play competitive tennis and I also participate in several clubs, including Math League, Red Cross Club, Key Club, and Leader’s Club. I also enjoy writing, art, singing, and collaborating with others.

Advisory Team

Ms. Rosemary Simmons

Ms. Rosemary Simmons has been the Academy school nurse since 2002. Prior to that she taught Nursing in the Vocational school district for ten years. Ms. Simmons is the Academy's Interact Advisor and works closely with the Edison Rotary Club. She is also Co-Advisor for the school's National Honor Society that does community service projects. Ms. Simmons works with Robert Wood Johnson Hospital and their Safety Ambassador Program teaching safety to first grade students.

Mr. Doug Baldwin

Doug (preferred pronouns: he/his) is currently the Associate Director for Technology and User Services at the Piscataway Library, with 15 years experience working in a variety of roles in public libraries. His experiences include working for large, medium and small sized libraries as an adult services librarian, systems administrator, and emerging technologies librarian and technology department supervisor. He also serves as co-facilitator of the Piscataway Library MiY Makerspace and co-founder and Board Vice President for the New Jersey Makers Day initiative. He is the recipient of the New Jersey Library Association Library Service Award (2016) and Librarian of the Year (2020) as well as being named a 2018 Library Mover and Shaker by Library Journal for Advocacy. He is a graduate of both Rutgers University (BA, MLIS) and Montclair State University (MA) with concentrations in history and library science.