Correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't the goal of FIRST to influence kids through robots to like science and technology, and not sports stars and actors? Wouldn't having a FIRST celebrity be against the ideas of FIRST and why it was started? If a celebrity endorses FIRST, wouldn't that remove the idea of scientists and engeiners becoming the stars?

If a celebrity endorsement, helps spread the influence of FIRST to more HS students, how can it be against the ideas of FIRST?

The ideals of FIRST are still taught to its participants through its competitions and challenges.

Having celebrities and stars endorsing FIRST will shows that people who doesn't do science and technology as a living approve of FIRST. The stars could serve as Ambassadors introducing us to the rest of the world.

Let me ask you this: would a celebrity endorsing FIRST inspire young people into science and technology? The answer is most probably, yes.

The real question then, is will FIRST be bending its principles to acomplish its goals. I don't believe they will. Consider this: There are many paths in life, and many things to excel in--each does what he is compelled to do. Science and engineering are wonderful, but if we lived in a country with only scientists and engineers, our culture would be severely lacking. So then, there is most certainly a place for actors and celebrities in our society.

Now, if there is a place for them in our society, why should we be elitist, and exclude them from promoting FIRST? The real issue is not that sports stars and celebrities are bad, it is that too much undue attention is paid to them, and too little to scientist and engineers. If these celebrities are willing to help shift some of that attention to FIRST, in an attempt to change the culture, how is that against the spirit of FIRST?

Hope that wasn't too long ...
Stephen

What you'd ideally like, I think, is a "reformed celebrity."

If you can get someone to say, "You all know me because I've made millions of dollars starring in such films as. . . but, I really wish I'd have had the chance to be in FIRST like you all do."

...or something. Maybe they'll sound less like Troy McClure.

All that I have to say is this:
ALAN ALDA! :D

Darrell Green
~Already has shown a dedicated interest in helping youth to achive. Darrell Green Youth Life Foundation
Mr. I-Invented-the-Internet
~Has become much more reserved recently
Q
~Makes the coolest and most creative things, ever.
David Beckham
~One can dream. :)


Wetzel

I couldn't agree with you more. I think that a "reformed celebrity" is exactly what FIRST needs.

What would really be nice is a celebrity that already was in the FIRST program. Their may be one out there, you never know. :confused:

I have to agree... can't redeem yourself after that one, can ya?

Along the same lines as Q, how about Pierce Brosnan---He's famous for using nothing but the coolest, most cutting-edge technology, and I can think of a million and one ways for him to total a stack of bins with a BMW.

everyone is mentioning actors, music stars, etc, but what about politicians?

yeah yeah, we all know they lie and no one likes them, but everyone listens to them. even if they don't want to, they still do.

my idea, maybe get whatever FIRST team wins something big (like chairman's award) they would meet with some big wig politician(s) (doesn't have to be president, but maybe like, state governer, a bunch of senators, representatives, etc). if that happens enough, people will start to see FIRST.

another idea is try and get FIRST mentioned on channels like MTV (yes, i do know that's been tried). imagine a FIRST team as guests on TRL? obviously it'd have to be an exceptional robot, but i'm confident if FIRST, MTV, and some team that made an amazing machine were to cooperate, it'd definitely doable.

lastly, and this is a bit of a stretch, but maybe we can get FIRST mentioned in some movies? someone mentioned several characters from James Bond. maybe figure out someway to incorporate FIRST into the next bond movie?

remember, we don't just need one giant celebrity. we also need lots of smaller ones, because they're just as important in spreading the word.

I thought of a real good one....

Stephen Hawkins. His voice machine shows just what technology can do. He is just the type of person FIRST would want.

Don't you mean, Stephen Hawking? ;) Unless you mean the landscape oil painter, Stephen Hawkins :p

He wouldn't be too bad, but if you want to get FIRST's message out to the public you have to get someone who is fairly casusal that the average Joe would recognize

Any average Joe thats watched the Simpsons will know Stephen Hawking. :)

Ah you are right, where the Utopia ended up turning into a fruitopia :D