Mentors

Mentors are the driving force behind Team RUSH. They inspire, teach, instruct the students. There are many mentor positions available, including; robot build, electrical systems, chaperones, programming help, and business/managment positions. Mentors make many of the important decisions concerning the build of the robot and the make up of the team.

Name: Pam Barclay (Alumni)
Favorite Color: Green
Rookie Year in FIRST: 1999
Rookie Year on RUSH: 1999
RUSH Mentor Since: 2010
Favorite Moment: I have too many! Watching the robot move for the first time my Rookie Year; being Human Player and being on the field; Mrs. Hughes winning the National Woodie Flowers Award; all of the late nights (or early mornings depending on your point of view) during build season and the craziness that comes from a large group of overtired students and mentors.
Favorite Quote: "The future depends on what we do in the present." -Mahatma Gandhi
Personal Hero: My mom
Company: Need a job!
Sub team: Management
What do you want to accomplish?: To learn from every experience and opportunity and enjoy the adventure of life!

Name: Anthony Lapp (Alumni)
Favorite Color: Doesn’t believe in favorite colors
Rookie Year in FIRST: 1996
Rookie Year on RUSH: 2005
RUSH Mentor Since: 2005
Personal Hero: Justin Ridley
Company: American Axle and Manufacturing and Team 221
Sub team: Above Chassis
What do you want to accomplish?: Inspire young minds

Name: Jason Markesino (Alumni)
Favorite Color: Blue
Rookie Year in FIRST: 1997
Rookie Year on RUSH: 1997
RUSH Mentor Since: 2005
Favorite Moment: Winning two regionals in 1999.
Favorite Quote: "Shoot for the moon, even if you miss you will land among the stars."
Personal Hero: Dean Kamen
Company: Applied Manufacturing Technologies
Sub team: CIG
What do you want to accomplish?: Kick butt autonomous mode

Name: Shannon Moegling (Alumni)
Favorite Color: Blue
Rookie Year on FIRST: 1998
Rookie Year on RUSH: 2005
RUSH Mentor Since: 2005
Favorite Moment: Dancing and cheering at Nationals
Favorite Quote: "The world is before you and you need not take it or leave it as it was when you came in."
Personal Hero: My husband
Company: Johnson Controls
Sub team: CIG
What do you want to accomplish?: Inspiring High School students to go into math and science fields and win National Chairmans Award.

Josh Fritch

Name: Josh Fritch (Alumni)
Favorite Color: Red
Rookie Year in FIRST: 2001
Rookie Year on RUSH: 2001
RUSH Mentor Since: 2010.5
Favorite Moment: Being on the drive team.
Favorite Quote:
Personal Hero: Dennis
Company: BAE
Sub team: Drive Team
What do you want to accomplish?:

Name: Jimmy Holmes
Favorite Color: Green
Rookie Year in FIRST: 1997
Rookie Year on RUSH: 1997
RUSH Mentor Since:1997
Favorite Moment: The finals at the West Michigan Regional in 2002
Favorite Quote: “As far as you seek, you will go”
Personal Hero: My Parents
Company: Detroit Testing Laboratory
Sub team: Build
What do you want to accomplish?: “Through mentoring I want to make a difference in the lives of young people, for they are the future.”

Name: Dennis Hughes (Parent)
Favorite Color: Blue
Rookie Year in FIRST: 1997
Rookie Year on RUSH: 1997
RUSH Mentor Since:1997
Favorite Moment: 2003 Championship Quality Award and 2004 Great Lakes Regional chairman’s award
Favorite Quote: "There are thousands of ways to skin a cat."
Personal Hero: Wife
Company: Chrysler
Sub team: Chassis
What do you want to accomplish?: To be competitive and have fun

Name: Kyle Hughes (Parent)
Favorite Color: Green
Rookie Year in FIRST: 1997
Rookie Year on RUSH: 1997
RUSH Mentor Since:1997
Favorite Moment: Winning the Woodie Flowers Award.
Favorite Quote: "Attitude's a choice, choose yours!"
Personal Hero: Grandma Ruth, Mom, & Dennis
Company: Clarkston Schools - CSMTech Academy
Sub team: Business/Leadership
What do you want to accomplish?: To change the culture of the Clarkston community to be a robotics world!

Name: Kathleen Adkins (Parent)
Favorite Color: Blue
Rookie Year in FIRST: 2007
Rookie Year on RUSH: 2007
RUSH Mentor Since: 2008
Favorite Moment: At the Regatta when the vikings sank. "The thrill of victory and the agony of defeat."
Favorite Quote: "Safety first and always" and "Snowmen fall from heaven unassembled."
Personal Hero: Kathryn McKinsey
Company: K.A. Type and K&K Studios
Sub team: Student Managers

Our Magical Machinists:

Name: Bruce Turner (Alumni Parent)
Favorite Color: Blue
Rookie Year in FIRST: 1998
Rookie Year on RUSH: 1998
RUSH Mentor Since:1998
Favorite Moment: Coming in 4th at nationals in 1999.
Favorite Quote: The Serenity Prayer
Personal Hero: Leonardo Da Vinci
Company: Retired from General Motors
Sub team: Machining
What do you want to accomplish?: Make parts that work

Name: Ken Barch (Alumni Parent)
Favorite Color: Blue
Rookie Year in FIRST: 2008
Rookie Year on RUSH: 2008
RUSH Mentor Since: 2008
Favorite Moment: Watching my son, Eric, catch a Dolly Varden Trout in Alaska.
Favorite Quote: "There are no problems, only opportunities to find solutions." -Henry David Thoreau
Personal Hero: Henry David Thoreau
Company: US Fabricating Inc.
Sub team: Machining

Name: Mike Smith
Favorite Color: Green
Rookie Year in FIRST: 2005
Rookie Year on RUSH: 2005
RUSH Mentor Since: 2005
Favorite Moment: Joining the Air Force
Favorite Quote: N/A
Personal Hero: My mom
Company: General Motors
Sub team: Machining
What do you want to accomplish?: N/A