UFH: Michael Martus

[CD47-Bot]

Thread created automatically to discuss UFH Honoree: Michael Martus.



Name: Michael Martus
Date Honored: 10-31-2004
Years involved w/FIRST: 10
FIRST Team(s): Delphi/DaimlerChrysler &, Pontiac Central High School (0047)
Role: Teacher
Quote: “If the girls don’t find you handsome, they should at least find you handy.” - Red Green
Bio: Mike Martus is a well-known FIRST icon. A ten-year member of ChiefDelphi (#47), Mike is always hard at work with the team at every event. He is a driving force behind team 47, and an inspiring presence on these boards.

Mike has a great FIRST memory to share with us. "That will have to be when we won the Chairman’s Award at the Nationals in 1997. We worked very hard that year to bring as many innovative ideas to reality, a total team effort. One outstanding program we had was the C.A.D.E.T. (Children Aspiring to Develop Engineering Talent). We were the very first FIRST team to reach out to middle and elementary school students to get them involved in FIRST like experiences. This was the forerunner to the now popular Lego League. Winning the Chairman’s Award has set our focus and team direction to this very day. That event by far was very special to my team and me. There are many other memories associated with FIRST, that’s what makes the FIRST program so special."

Mike also gave us a list of special accomplishments by him and his team. "I have been involved in many aspects of FIRST from the very start. Leading Rookie workshops in Manchester for new teams, mentoring many local schools to start teams, working as a volunteer on many FIRST committees, pushing for ideas that will help teams, to name just a few. Of recent years I have served as Inspector and Lead Inspector at several local and distant FIRST events. Giving back to the Community of FIRST is a very important concept. If FIRST is to sustain and grow it will need a payback of all we have learned as being part of FIRST. Sharing our wealth of knowledge is critical. I would like to list here the many students I have been privileged to know and work with as a result of the FIRST program. If I have made a difference in just one student, then that is my greatest accomplishment in FIRST."

As if Mike's mentorship wasn't inspiring enough, he also had some words of advice: "The FIRST experience can lead the student to see the world through a different set of eyes. Many students do not think they can be successful because they have not been given the opportunity to excel. Mentorship by FIRST Teachers and Engineers gives the extra excitement that otherwise may not be seen by the student. Advice: So FIRST-ers open your eyes, listen to your mentors, and see the world for what it can be for you. Make this world a better place as a result of you."

Congratulations to Mike Martus, a great supporter of the FIRST program and our 23rd Unsung FIRST Hero.

Nominated By: Psalms(118:6)

[Amanda Morrison]

Congratulations to Mike Martus, our next Unsung FIRST Hero.

... the awesome guy that lets me follow him around Michigan when I get lost

[Mike Schroeder]

Congrats Mike Martus a UFH and a bear hug victim

[Bharat Nain]

Congracts Mike Martus..

[Lisa Perez]

Congratulations, Mr. Martus! Thank you for all you've done for FIRST and OCCRA

[Arefin Bari]

Congrats Mr. Martus. Your contribution to FIRST is unforgetable. you are welll deserved for this award. The UFH Committee has done a great job for more than a year to honor these deserved FIRSTers.

[Al Skierkiewicz]

Mike,
How wonderful to open CD this morning and see you have been nominated for UFH. I have had the chance to work with Mike for several years now and it is always a great time. From the CDI competitions to working as competition volunteer, Mike has always put a lot into this program. He is truly one of those background people that keeps everything working smoothly.
Congrats, Mike!

[Raul]

Congrats Mike,

Well deserved - I really respect your dedication to inspiring students. I consider you one of the benchmarks for teachers in FIRST.

And, I do not know about handsome - but you definitely are handy.
Raul

[dlavery]

Mike -

Congratulations! This is well deserved!

I get to see Mike several times each year, ususally at one of the many FIRST competition events at which he volunteers. He is always ready to jump in and help as an inspector, referee, field hand, or just all around good guy. When he is with his team, he is the consumate mentor.

The UFH group did a good job with this one.

-dave

[meaubry]

Mike - a well deserved nominee as UFH. Mike is the glue that holds us together as a team. For FIRST he goes out of his way to try and improve the way things are done and when we aren't at a competition, he volunteers to help as an inspector or what ever they need done. Mike is so dedicated to making the FIRST experience as good as it can be for the students. It has been a pleasure just traveling and being around him, even though he forces us to watch RED GREEN. Congrats to Mike !!

[Wetzel]

Congratulations Mr Martus. You gave me some suggestions early on when I started posting, and because you haven't mentioned it again I think you did a good job.

Wetzel

[JohnBoucher]

Congratulations Mike,
A very well deserved honor. I really appreciate you being so kind to this newbie. Let me know where to send the chocolate chip cookies

[Jeff Waegelin]

Congratulations, Mike! I'm always amazed by all the things you do for your team, FIRST, and OCCRA, year-round. You are truly an inspiration to us all.


.... and, you have a really slick license plate

[Brandon Martus]

Mr. Boucher: Just send the cookies to me, and I'm sure they'll somehow end up in his belly before I hear about them. :-D


Congratulations, dad. I can't believe you quoted Red Green .. weird-o.

[Rich Kressly]

Congrats Mike. It was a pleasure to finally meet you last year in Atlanta. Keep going.