Kaplan, Inc. and Newsweek Announce Winners of "My Turn" Essay Competition 

NEW YORK (May 10, 2000) – Kaplan, Inc. and Newsweek magazine have announced the winners of the 6th Annual Kaplan/ Newsweek "My Turn" Essay Competition, a contest that seeks out and recognizes promising young writers. More than 3,000 high school students nationwide submitted essays this year, and ten students were selected to receive a $1,000 college scholarship. Kaplan and Newsweek will publish the ten winning essays, along with those of ten students given honorable mentions, in the Newsweek Education Program book "My Turn" Essays: Student Perspectives, which will be distributed to high schools nationwide this fall. The winning authors reflected on topics including issues of diversity, the power of art and painting, volunteering abroad, respecting the elderly, the electoral process, and the pressure to succeed in high school.

Scholarship Winners:
Daniel Alterbaum, Great Neck, NY
Amanda Jennifer Cadogan, Townsend, MA
Rachael Copp, Delmar, NY
Stephanie Hu, Honolulu, HI
Stefanie King, Hamilton, MA
Elizabeth Jean Kvach, Sand Springs, OK
Jaya Padmanabhan, Poughkeepsie, NY
Archana Radhakrishnan, Brookfield, IL
Matt Rivara, Seattle, WA
Brenda Williams, Auburn, WA

Honorable Mention:
Tiffany Annett, Chippewa Falls, WI
Anna Becker, New Brighton, MN
Eric Cheung, Foster City, CA
Kelsey Hanson, Los Altos, CA
Rebecca Noel Katka, Princeton, MA
Jennifer Kim Lee, Cresskill, NJ
Katherine Linder, Sacramento, CA
Michelle Martin, Pigeon Forge, TN
Meno Miyake, Anaheim, CA
Floria Volynskaya, Baltimore, MD

"It is inspiring to see so many students communicate their thoughts, feelings and experiences through such powerful essays," said Jonathan Grayer, Kaplan's President and CEO. "Kaplan is committed to helping individuals achieve their education and career goals, and it is gratifying to award these outstanding young writers with scholarships in recognition of their individual talents. We hope that these students will continue to write in college and beyond."

"Each year we are impressed with the talent and innovation displayed by these young writers," said Richard Smith, chairman and editor-in-chief of Newsweek. "We are delighted that so many students spent the time writing thoughtful, emotional essays that reflect the fascinating depth and breadth of our culture."

Judges for the competition included award-winning NPR special correspondent Susan Stamberg, CNN correspondent Maria Hinojosa, Children’s Defense Fund president and founder Marian Wright Edelman, Kaplan Vice president of publishing Trent Anderson and Newsweek senior editorial assistant Pamela Hamer.

The "My Turn" Essay Competition is a collaboration between Kaplan and Newsweek, building on Newsweek’s well-known column "My Turn" and both companies ongoing commitment to education. The "My Turn" Competition is one of Kaplan’s many community outreach programs that provide needed educational resources and opportunities to thousands of students annually.

About Newsweek and Kaplan

Newsweek holds more National Magazine Awards given by the American Society of Magazine Editors (ASME) than any other newsweekly. Newsweek was bought by The Washington Post Company in 1961. Worldwide circulation is 4,443,261, including 3,272,000 in the United States.

Kaplan, Inc. (kaplan.com) is a premier provider of educational and career services for individuals, schools and businesses. Its divisions include Test Preparation and Admissions (www.kaptest.com); SCORE! Learning Corporation, offering after-school programs for kids and resources for parents and kids through eSCORE (www.escore.com); educational training programs for adults (www.kaplanprofessional.com); and KaplanCollege.com, a distance learning division including on-site education and professional development at schools and universities, books and software, and professional education services. Kaplan is the majority shareholder in BrassRing Inc. (BrassRing.com), which combines recruiting, career development and hiring management services for employers and employees. Kaplan is a subsidiary of The Washington Post Company.

Press Contact: pubrel@kaplan.com, (212) 492-5965