Southfield (WWJ)  -- Called the "heart and soul of Team 47," since 1995 teacher Michael Martus of Pontiac Central High school has served a volunteer, a ref, an inspector, a coordinator, and a judge in the FIRST Robotics program.  On Thursday, Aptil 10, 2008, Martus was announced as the first ever FIRST Robotics Teacher of the Year.

The FIRST Teacher of the Year is a new award for 2008, presented by WWJ along with Kettering University.   The competition is meant to honor those teachers who give selflessly of their time and resources to support the bright and talented Michigan high school students designing, constructing, and competing in the FIRST Robotics competition.

Martus was the unanimous choice of the judges (the FIRST organization, Kettering University, and WWJ) as well as the #1 vote recipient in the voting by thousands of FIRST students and WWJ listeners right here on WWJ.com.  As winner, Martus will receive a $1,000 check and a trophy from Kettering, presented during at special ceremony at the winner's school.

Here's some more of what Martus's nominators had to say:

"Martus is a winner in every way because of the commitment he has put into this program and his dedication to his students. "

"In my life, I have met only a handful of truly great people.  Mike Martus is one of these select few.  Mike Martus is one of most dedicated people that I have ever met. ... Mike serves as a role model to mentors on other teams, we all try to be like Mike.  I cannot say enough good things about this man."

"How can one person find the time to be a teacher, coach, mentor, husband, father, and friend? Ask Michael Martus. A man full of miracles...Mr. Martus strives each day to make a difference in someone's life. Whether it is spending 16-hour days at school trying to make our team successful, going out and finding new sponsors, or even attending team members' sports games to cheer them on; he will be there. 

"Martus is like a father to every member on this team. He makes sure that every member on the team is taken care of in all aspects of their lives. Every student that enters his classroom is made to look at themselves as winners and supported to do their very best."

" Mike has changed the lives of many young men and women through is commitment to FIRST." Click here to read more.