We've all dreamt of making it big in the NBA or in Hollywood, earning millions of dollars a year. Unfortunately, very few of us will go on to be the next Britney Spears or Kobe Bryant. Becoming a scientist or an engineer who makes a lot of money, however, can become a reality. And, Dean Kamen wants that dream come true for young peeps.

Who is Dean Kamen?

Dean Kamen is founder of FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology,) an organization aimed at helping kids in North America "discover the excitement and rewards of science, math and technology."

Putting Kids FIRST

FIRST started out with a program aimed at high school students called the Robotics Competition. It drew kids from the UK, Brazil, Canada and every American state. In 2003, an estimated 200,000 kids will took part in 24 different Robotics Competitions. The goal of these contests is to work in a team to build your own robot, and at the end of the day, the winners walk home with big scholarships and grants for post-secondary schooling.

Joining the FIRST Program

A new FIRST program has just been developed, with the help of LEGO, and is aimed at peeps nine to 14. It's called the FIRST LEGO League Jr. Robotics Challenge. Participants build robots from LEGO, motors, sensors and gears, in a friendly, non-competitive forum. It is hoped that kids who take part in the FIRST LEGO League Jr. Robotics Challenge will one day go on to compete in the original Robotics Competition and cash in on some big prizes.

What the FIRST Program Can Do For You!

The starting wage in the science and technology field is often more than $55,000 US with the potential of making much, much more. Dean Kamen is a multi-millionaire, all thanks to his hard work in the sciences.

You, too, could be a future tech-whiz. Why not gather a team of your closest buds and sign up for a FIRST Robotic Challenge. For more info, take a look at www.usfirst.org.

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