TOPEKA, Kan. -Kansas State Treasurer and administrator of Learning Quest® Lynn Jenkins, CPA, today announced the third annual essay contest in celebration of September's National College Savings month. Learning Quest, the Kansas 529 Education Savings Program, will sponsor the $3,000 college investment essay contest open to seventh and eighth grade students across Kansas.
"This is a fun and stimulating way for teachers, their students and the students' parents to begin the 2004 school year with thoughts of post high-school education right around the corner," Jenkins said. "Like many families in Kansas, I am also a working parent and understand how quickly our children grow up. That is why one of our goals in the state of Kansas is to motivate kids and their parents to plan for their educational future by thinking about college and the importance of planning ahead."
The topic of this year's contest is "write an essay about someone you admire who went to college and how it has helped them succeed." One winner and one runner-up in each grade level will receive a $1,000 and $500 Learning Quest college investment, respectively, and a celebration party for their classroom**. Homeschool students are also eligible to participate. If a homeschool winner or runner-up is selected, they will receive a celebration party for their immediate family. Kansas students enrolled in grades seventh or eighth can enter through official entry forms that will be distributed to principals and teachers in August. Official forms are also available for download at learningquest.com/essay beginning September 1, 2004. All contest entries must be received by Thursday, Sept. 30, 2004.
General information about Learning Quest is available by calling 1-800-579-2203 or by visiting learningquest.com. Investment advisors interested in Learning Quest Advisor should call 1-877-882-6236 or visit www.americancentury/ipro.com.
For more information about the Kansas 529 program or any of the programs offered by Treasurer Jenkins, please visit www.kansasstatetreasurer.com. Treasurer Lynn Jenkins, CPA is a former State Representative and Senator from Topeka and was elected as the 37th State Treasurer on November 5, 2002.
* Changes resulting from the 2001 Tax Act are effective through Dec. 31, 2010, and may or may not be extended past that date with further legislative action.
** Prizes are paid for by the Learning Quest Program. No taxpayer dollars are used to purchase or disburse winning prizes.
Learning Quest Essay Contest
No Purchase Necessary
Deadline for entries - Thursday, Sept. 30, 2004
1. All contest entries must be postmarked by Thursday, September 30, 2004. Essay contest entries should be mailed to:
Learning Quest
LQ Essay Contest
Attn: CW3, 09-01
4500 Main Street
Kansas City, MO 64111-9718
2. Contest entries will be judged by representatives of American Century, the Kansas State Treasurer's Office and Barkley Evergreen & Partners, Inc. Decision of judges will be final. Each essay will be judged for overall content, grammatical accuracy, logic and clarity. Essays should be 100-200 words and can be typed or handwritten on white paper. All non-original work must be footnoted and a bibliography provided, when applicable. Each student must include a completed Student Information/Permission Form. Each entry must include a completed form to be eligible. The winner's parent/guardian is required to sign a permission slip to allow use of the winner's name and likeness in any promotional material for the contest including, without limitation, any press releases relating to the event. Winners will be notified 4 - 6 weeks following contest deadline.
3. Only one winner per grade level (in the State of Kansas) will be selected from the valid entries. Second and third alternates will be selected in case the first person chosen does not respond or confirm participation within 24-hours of first contact or it is determined that they have not met the requirements stated in this document.
4. One winner and one runner-up per grade level will be chosen to win a $1,000 and $500 Learning Quest college investment, respectively. Winners will also receive a celebration party for their classroom*. The teacher with the most contest entries will receive $500 to be used toward educational materials.
5. The contest is open to residents of the State of Kansas, enrolled in seventh and eighth grades. Employees of the Kansas State Treasurer's Office, employees of Barkley Evergreen & Partners, Inc. and employees of American Century Companies, Inc. ("ACC") and all other companies owned or controlled by ACC and members of those employee's immediate families are not eligible to participate. This contest is subject to all applicable federal, state and local laws and regulations and is void where prohibited.
*Homeschool winners would receive a celebration party for their immediate family.
Notice: Accounts established under Learning Quest® and their earnings are neither insured nor guaranteed by the State of Kansas, the Kansas State Treasurer or American Century Investments. As with any investment, withdrawal value may be more or less than your original investment. By investing in a 529 plan outside the state in which you pay taxes, you may lose any tax benefits offered by your own state's plan. This material is for informational purposes only and is not intended as investment or tax advice.
Administered by Kansas State Treasurer Lynn Jenkins, CPA.
Managed by American Century Investment Management, Inc. Distributed by American Century Investment Services, Inc. ©2004 American Century Investment Management, Inc. All rights reserved.
