Kaplan and Newsweek Kick Off 9th Annual "My Turn" Essay Competition

Budding Writers Earn Cash for College

New York, September 18, 2002 - Calling all high school students with a knack for writing and an interest in earning money for college: Kaplan and Newsweek are kicking off their ninth annual "My Turn" Essay Competition, which enables students to voice their opinions and compete for college scholarships. The "My Turn" Essay Competition is a collaboration between Newsweek magazine's well known "My Turn" essay column and Kaplan's college admissions expertise.

Ten finalists will be selected, with the first prize winner receiving $5,000; the second prize winner receiving $2,000; and eight additional winners receiving $1,000 each. Ten honorable mentions also will be selected. In addition to the scholarship, the winning essays will be considered for publication in Newsweek magazine. Entry forms and official rules are available online at http://www.kaptest.com/essay or by calling 1-800-KAP-TEST. The deadline for entry is March 1, 2003. Winners will be announced in April.

The competition requires students to reflect upon personal experiences that have shaped their lives in original 500-1,000 word essays. Past topics have included the effects of war on families, the value of friendship, and the significance of leadership. A panel of judges will be announced in January. Last year's judges included author and Newsweek journalist Anna Quindlen, Pulitzer-prize winning journalist Ron Suskind, Columbia University Senior Associate Director of Admissions Peter Johnson, and Newsweek Senior Editorial Assistant Pamela Hamer.

"The competition gives us a window into the minds of teens today and enables us to help talented young writers pay for college," said Dan McGrew, Director of PreCollege Programs for Kaplan.

"Strong writing skills are the foundation of academic and professional success," said Richard M. Smith, Chairman and Editor-in-Chief of Newsweek. "This competition gives students an additional opportunity to hone their skills and showcase their talent."

Kaplan and Newsweek
Kaplan, Inc. (http://www.kaplan.com) is a premier provider of educational services for individuals, schools and businesses. Newsweek provides comprehensive coverage of national and international affairs, business, society, science and technology, and arts and entertainment. The magazine appears in more than 190 countries and has a worldwide circulation of more than 4 million. Kaplan and Newsweek are subsidiaries of The Washington Post Company (NYSE: WPO).

Press Contact:

Tammy Fang
Tel: 212-492-5965
tammy_fang@kaplan.com

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