Okemos High School, Engineering/CAD/Computer Applications - 5 years with FIRST
What we've heard about Mr. Buggia:
"When Dean got his job at Okemos High School 3 years ago, he inherited the position of team liaison without knowing what FIRST Robotics was all about. The principle basically told him 'part of your job is to make this robotics team a success here at OHS.' He quickly became very interested in the program. Our team was relatively new (only two years old at the time), but Dean soon began to get very involved in our team, and FIRST Robotics. During his first two years at OHS Dean was not only involved in the robotics team, he was also the junior varsity basketball coach. He soon realized that he had to make a choice, because he would not be able to handle both jobs, and do them as well as he wanted to. The choice for Dean was robotics.
He has not only increased his involvement with the team, but he also has started a Lego robotics after school program for the elementary students within Okemos School district, and has been very active in getting the word out about our team to all of the employees within the district. During the summer, he has been working with Michigan State University's Lego robotics program, and has brought students to the semi annual Engineering Design Days at MSU in an effort to get more kids involved with engineering and robotics. Dean has developed a robotics curriculum, and will be teaching a robotics class at OHS beginning next fall. This is a first for OHS, and it all began with Dean's passion for FIRST Robotics. His hope is that he will be able to develop our robotics team into a varsity sport at OHS.
Dean's passion for FIRST Robotics has definitely grown significantly from the day that he was handed the responsibility to lead our team on behalf of OHS. He had no idea what he was in for initially, but he has certainly worked hard to grow the program within our school district."
Health Care Reform Debate 11/21
Michigan Senator Debbie Stabenow addresses the floor on the first vote that will take place for the health reform bill.
Health Care Debate 11/21
Michigan Senator Carl Levin addresses the Senate prior to a vote on the health care reform bill.
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"When Dean got his job at Okemos High School 3 years ago, he inherited the position of team liaison without knowing what FIRST Robotics was all about. The principle basically told him 'part of your job is to make this robotics team a success here at OHS.' He quickly became very interested in the program. Our team was relatively new (only two years old at the time), but Dean soon began to get very involved in our team, and FIRST Robotics. During his first two years at OHS Dean was not only involved in the robotics team, he was also the junior varsity basketball coach. He soon realized that he had to make a choice, because he would not be able to handle both jobs, and do them as well as he wanted to. The choice for Dean was robotics. 
