Learning Quest, a Kansas 529 education 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. Other winning entries from the state were eighth-grader Stevie Brooks Jr. of Leavenworth, seventh-grader Jay Baker of Lawrence and seventh-grade Leigha Empson of Lenexa.

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

Garden City Student Wins Essay Contest - Add One

College is the Key to Opportunity

Kent Paser is a very special person with a very special background, and he is my Grandpa. He is the son of a first generation Lithuanian immigrant tailor. Although his family was very poor, especially during the Great Depression, he dreamt about building airplanes and rockets.

Grandpa's dreams were realized at the Aeronautical University of Chicago, where he studied to become an Aeronautical Engineer, rocket scientist. Successfully completing college, Grandpa was recruited by a company that designed spacecraft. He worked on the Apollo program, Skylab, Titan missiles, and the Mars Observer.

College had many benefits for Grandpa. He used his knowledge to build and modify an airplane in his garage. He shared his knowledge by writing the book Speed with Economy, which has sold world-wide and by being the technical counselor for airplane builders. He also gives seminars at aircraft conventions. As the only child in his family to attend college, he broke out of poverty through increased salaries and promotions, without damaging physical labor. In his retirement he is able to live comfortably, both physically and financially.

College was the key to the door of opportunity for Grandpa. It fulfilled his dream of building airplanes and rockets, allowed him to escape from a life of poverty, provided him with a good job, life and retirement, and let him participate in the national space program which put the man on the moon. Through college the son of a poor tailor became a rocket scientist.

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.

** 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. Learning Quest is distributed by American Century Investment Services, Inc.