SACRAMENTO -- On this week's "The Big Spin®" Show, Olympic Gold Medalist, Bruce Jenner presented Mike Lamasney with the California Lottery's "Hero in Education" award. One of the most popular sports figures in the world, Jenner earned the title of The World's Greatest Athlete after winning the decathlon at the 1976 Olympic Games.
This month's hero is Mike Lamasney, a retired electronics engineer from Twain Harte. For ten years, Mr. Lamasney has volunteered as the District Technology Coordinator for the Twain Harte-Long Barn Union School District in Northern California. On a daily basis, he makes sure that nearly 700 students, at five different campuses, have the most state-of- the-art computer equipment available. He does this by soliciting donations of computers, installing them into the classrooms, networking them together, and upgrading them with programs and memory.
In some of the schools, Mr. Lamasney has created computer labs, where the students can complete assignments, and learn computer skills that will help them remain competitive in a computer oriented workforce. For students in a rural community like Twain Harte, access to computers is critical, given that many of the students would not be exposed to computers if it were not for the generosity of Mr. Lamasney.
The California Lottery's distinguished "Heroes in Education" award has been presented monthly on "The Big Spin®" television show, since 1999. The Lottery partners with various celebrities to present these awards which recognize special individuals who devote their time and resources to their schools and communities. This week's show airs Saturday, January 10, 2004, in 12 television markets statewide.
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