These grownups make a career with LEGOS
1/24/2004 8:25 PM
By: News 8 Austin Staff

For the past three months, executives at LEGOLAND have been searching across the country for a new Master Model Builder, one who designs the elaborate and intricate exhibits at LEGOLAND California.

The Master Model Builder is a special type of person, one who never gave up their love of the primary colored building blocks.

Yet at about $15 an hour, the Master Model Builder certainly is not in it for the money.

On Friday in Carlsbad, California, 27 finalists from 27 cities representing 17 states competed for the position.

Each finalist was given 4,000 standard LEGO bricks, and was allowed to fill an additional bag full of bricks of their choice.

Finalists had two hours to build the best LEGOLAND attraction possible using their bricks and their imagination.

There was only supposed to be one winner, but park representatives said the level of talent made it clear that one wouldn't be enough.

Two hours later, Kristi Klein from Los Angeles, Nathan Sawaya from New York City and Aaron Sneary from Laurel, MD were announced as the winners.

"We saw such amazing talent in these 27 finalists, that it was just too difficult to choose only one to join our team," said Pat DeMaria, supervisor of the Model Shop. "Plus by the way the theme park is expanding, I wouldn't be surprised if we see more of them in the future."

The three builders will be added to the current team of six.