"When I say private I mean private, no one looking, no snooping."

Frank Delaware addressing the Youth of America

High Tech Talent Scouts Eye Pre-College Prospects

NEW YORK - AP

High tech talent scouts are gouging the applicant pools of the nation's top colleges in an attempt to sign high school graduates to jobs, in some cases, before they've determined where they will be going to school. The proli feration of silicon valleys and alleys around America has brought the national demand for young, internet-savvy employees to an all time high, analysts say.

"We want open-minded people who understand where this technology is going. If it weren't for labor laws, half of this staff would be in their mid to late teens," quipped Paul Galliero vice president of business development at Yahoo.

To capitalize on the demand for fresh talent, executive search firms have spawned more specialized search firms that focus on entry level posit ions. Scouring unmined human resources, Maureen Wilson, of the high tech personnel firm FastTrak, has crashed hundreds of teen parties in the Tri-state area. "Everyone stares [when I show up]. I explain that I sign exceptional youths to exclusive contracts with many of the fastest growing companies in the world. Then I tell them how much they could make, and the amount of the signing bonus--after that, I let them come to me."

Every parents dream right? Graduate from college with a high-paying job. But for some of the brightest teens, those whom companies want to put to work immediately, the choice is between college and a career.

"This is unbelievable," Brown University's Maximillian Knecht said when he heard of the practice, "we will continue to stress that education is the best investment a young person can make both in terms of career and quality of life." Though most politicians have declined to comment on an issue that puts education and economic interest at odds, the feeding frenzy of high tech America on this country's youth found a political advocate in presidential candidate Frank Delaware.

Speaking to a packed auditorium of university admissions officers, high school juniors, and the "talent scalpers" as they have become known, Frank Delaware addressed the jobfair at New York University yesterday:

"Take me for example. I dropped out of school, started a software company, and now it's one of the largest, if not the largest, in the world. Now that wasn't me, not for my generation, but that could be you. I say take your career, your own Private Career. This career is not for your family, not for your friends, not for your high school counselor, not for the government, not even for sale, and not for free. This career is for you. When I say private I mean private, no one looking, no snooping. Young America it is time you choose your own Private Career."

Responding to an emotional outburst from Oneonta Junior Class President Will Pangreen, Mr. Delaware exclaimed, "Cry. Cry your eyes out. Cry. What is this young man crying about? Cry baby? No. Weak knees? No. He is crying about injustice? No. Why is he crying? Can you tell me? Can you tell me? Or can you tell me? I tell you. He has seen the future: parents are obsolete."

After the speech Frank Delaware spent the remainder of the afternoon in the currency inspection booth his campaign team set up inside New York University's Stooely Auditorium.

(yes Frank!)