Learning Quest, a Kansas 529 college savings plan, sponsored the essay contest for all seventh- and eighth-grade students in Kansas to celebrate September as National College Savings Month and to encourage students to take an active role in planning for their educational future. Students were asked to write about someone he or she admires who went to college and how that experience helped the individual become successful. More than 400 essays were submitted.

"As a parent and CPA, I know planning for a child's future is of vital importance," said Jenkins, administrator of the Learning Quest program. "Through the essay contest we hope to encourage students and parents to begin thinking about saving for college while kids are still young. The earlier a family can start saving, the more time the investments have to grow."

One winner and one runner-up per grade level were chosen, receiving $1,000 and $500 Learning Quest college investments respectively and a celebration party for his or her classroom. Other winning entries from the state were from eighth-grader Stevie Brooks Jr. of Leavenworth, eighth-grader Larissa Hall of Garden City and seventh-grader Jay Baker of Lawrence.

A COPY OF LEIGHA'S ESSAY FOLLOWS ON PAGE 2 OF THIS RELEASE.

Lenexa Student Wins Essay Contest - Add One

The person I chose to interview was my father. He received his master's degree. My father decided to further his education because he knew that the best paying jobs required a master's degree, plus college would give him the opportunity to make more of himself.

In his years at college, my father discovered many things about himself and the world around him. He began to realize that he could no longer depend on anyone else, he had to begin to rely on himself. My father also learned that college is not the end of education but the beginning of a new phase. Even though college prepared him for the "real world" and his current job, a civil engineer for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, he believes that a commitment to learning is what makes you truly successful.

I think that you can learn so much at college about life and relying on yourself. I believe that everyone has the desire to learn more but some don't have the strength to do it. Not only will you get a better job, but you will develop higher self respect. A college education is an important factor to living a full life.

Learning Quest was created by the Kansas Legislature in 1999 and was officially opened July 1, 2000. The program is administered by the Kansas State Treasurer Lynn Jenkins, CPA, and is managed by American Century Investments. For more information go online at www.learningquest.com or www.kansasstatetreasurer.com.

Lynn Jenkins, CPA, a former State Representative and Senator from Topeka, was elected as the 37th State Treasurer on November 5, 2002. For more information about the Kansas 529 program or any of the programs offered by Treasurer Jenkins, please access her Web page at www.kansasstatetreasurer.com

** Prizes are paid for by the Learning Quest Program. No taxpayer dollars are used to purchase or disburse winning prizes.

Administered by Kansas State Treasurer, Lynn Jenkins, CPA. Managed by American Century Investment Management, Inc. 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. Learning Quest is distributed by American Century Investment Services, Inc.