Debbie Allen

Dancer, Choreographer, Actress, Director, Producer

When Debbie Allen was a child in Texas, she tried to take ballet classes at the Houston Foundation for Ballet but was rejected. Today, she continues to inspire thousands of young dancers, actors, directors and producers.

Ms. Allen studied in Mexico City and reauditioned for the Houston Foundation for Ballet in 1964. This time she was admitted on a full scholarship and became the company's first Black dancer.

After graduating from Howard University, she moved to New York City, where she worked as a dancer, actress, and singer on Broadway, in television and in film.

Perhaps Debbie Allen's best known role is as dance teacher Lydia Grant in the movie FAME, which brought her worldwide recognition.

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Dean Kamen

Inventor, Entrepreneur, Physicist

Dean Kamen holds more than 150 U.S. and international patents for inventions in healthcare, transport, water purification, and more. This award-winning Cultural Ambassador simply helps people live better lives.

After starting two companies, one while still at university, Mr. Kamen founded FIRST, an organization dedicated to motivating younger generations to understand, use, and enjoy science and technology. His annual FIRST Robotics Competition brings professional engineers together with high school students from all over America, attracting hundreds of teams.

Ambassador Kamen believes that his water purification system is can help break the vicious cycle of poverty and despair in the developing world.

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