Dean Kamen: Honorary Degree Recipient

[Summmergrl2298]

Hey guys, just thought I'd let you all know that Dean Kame is being given an honorary degree at Franklin Pierce College in Rindge, NH (where I go to school). A campus-wide email was sent out and this is what it said:


Dean Kamen is an inventor, entrepreneur, and a tireless advocate for science and technology. He is the founder of DEKA Research & Development Corporation, where he develops internally generated inventions and provides research and development for major corporate clients. He holds more than 440 U.S. and foreign patents for innovative devices that have expanded the frontiers of health care worldwide. Some of his notable inventions include the first wearable insulin pump for diabetics, the HomeChoice™ portable peritoneal dialysis machine, the INDEPENDENCE® IBOT® Mobility System, and the Segway® Human Transporter.

Among Mr. Kamen's proudest accomplishments is founding FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology), an organization dedicated to motivating the next generation to understand, use, and enjoy science and technology. He has personally recruited scores of the top leaders of American industry, education and government in this crusade. His roles as inventor and advocate are intertwined and his own passion for technology and its practical uses has driven his determination to spread the word about technology’s virtues and by so doing to change the culture of the United States.

In addition to his own attempts to master science and technology, Dean Kamen has received significant public recognition for his crusade on behalf of science and engineering. He was labeled by Smithsonian Magazine "the Pied Piper of technology" and profiled by the New York Times as "a new kind of hero for American youth."

Among the honors received by Kamen are The Kilby Award, which celebrates those who make extraordinary contributions to society; the Heinz Award in Technology, the Economy and Employment; and the National Medal of Technology, awarded by President Clinton in 2000 for inventions that have advanced medical care worldwide and for innovative and imaginative leadership in awakening America to the excitement of science and technology. He received the Lemelson-MIT Prize in 2002 and was inducted into the National Inventors Hall of Fame in May 2005.

You can only imagine how pumped I was reading this only 2 days after Nationals were over

[Richard Wallace]

Dean Kamen is certainly all that! He's racked up quite a few honorary degrees over the years.

As a student at Franklin Pierce, do you get to attend the commencement and maybe get the opportunity to meet Dean at your school?

[Tim Delles]

That is pretty sweet.

I know that when Dean recieved his Honorary degree from Clarkson (2001), our team was able to present it to him. That was pretty cool (especially since it was my first year on the team)

This makes me think, how many honorary degrees does Dean have?

[ahecht]

He has to have quite a few. Most of them are up in his library if you go to the founder's reception at kickoff. I think he has two from WPI alone.

On a side note, the WPI diploma is pretty funny. It looks exactly like a regular WPI diploma, but instead of saying "Worcester Polytechnic Institute hereby bestows..." it says "Worcester Polytechnic Institute hereby finally bestows..."

[Summmergrl2298]

Originally Posted by Richard

Dean Kamen is certainly all that! He's racked up quite a few honorary degrees over the years.

As a student at Franklin Pierce, do you get to attend the commencement and maybe get the opportunity to meet Dean at your school?

From what I hear, I'm supposed to have a ticket to get in, but most people say that students just walk in. I live in CT and am going home for the summer tomorrow so unfortunatly I won't be able to see him, but I beleive there is a webcast that will take place.