More than 650 essays were received from students all across the state for the chance to win one of four Learning Quest college savings accounts. Three of the four students chosen statewide are from Olpe.

Learning Quest sponsored the essay contest for all seventh and eighth grade students in Kansas to encourage students to take an active role in planning for their educational future. Students were asked to write about their favorite subject in school and give examples of a historical figure who shared their passion.

The winning students from Olpe are:

• Lee Redeker, seventh grade - $1,000 account
• Dalten Benton, seventh grade - $500 account
• Natalie Kuhlman, eight grade - $1,000 account

"I am pleased for these students and their parents. We had many great entries in our essay contest. When the final tallies were gathered and three of the four winners were from the same town, we knew there must be something special going on with these students, their teacher and their school," said State Treasurer Jenkins. "Being from a small Kansas town myself, I'm thrilled to be able to personally make these presentations."

The fourth winner in the essay contest is Megan Wood from Tonganoxie Junior High.

Jenkins, a former State Representative and Senator from Topeka, was re-elected to her second term as Kansas State Treasurer on November 7, 2006. During her time as Treasurer, Jenkins has expanded investment options in Learning Quest and oversaw the re-bidding of the nearly $1.5 billion program, returned an average of $9 million per year in unclaimed property to Kansans, initiated multiple financial literacy programs and eliminated the reliance on state general fund dollars to operate the office. She is a Certified Public Accountant and former small business owner.

General information about Learning Quest is available by calling 1-800-579-2203 or by visiting learningquest.com. Investment advisors interested in becoming a Learning Quest Advisor should call 1-877-882-6236 or visit www.learningquest.com.

** Prizes are paid for by American Century Investments. No taxpayer dollars are used to purchase or disburse winning prizes.

Before investing, carefully consider the plan's investment objectives, risks, charges and expenses. This information and more about the plan can be found in the Learning Quest Handbook, available by contacting your financial advisor or American Century Investment Services, Inc., Distributor and Underwriter, at 1-800-579-2203, and should be read carefully before investing. If you are not a Kansas taxpayer, consider before investing whether your or the beneficiary's home state offers a 529 Plan that provides its taxpayers with state tax and other benefits not available through this plan.

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.

Note to Media: The award ceremony will take place at the Junior High at 2:00 p.m., Tuesday, Dec. 12. Copies of the essays follow.

Last spring when my seven-year-old cousin Monica was hospitalized at Wesley Medical Center for a severely low platelet count, it scared our family. The doctors ran many different tests and checked for all types of illnesses, even leukemia. It amazed me how with each test they could find out more and more about what was going on inside her body. It also occurred to me just how important science is and how much it impacts our lives.

I've always been interested in the medical field. I think it is almost mind-boggling how medicines and surgery can impact the human body. Someday I want to help little kids that are sick, just like the nurses and doctors at Wesley helped Monica.

One person in the medical field who made a difference in the lives of many people is Florence Guinness Blake. She not only worked with small children as a nurse, but taught pediatric nursing for quite some tie. In 1946, she established a graduate program for Advanced Nursing Care for Children at the University of Chicago.

I hope that through science, I can make a difference in the world, even if it is just for one life or family.

It's a cold spring morning. You're camouflaged and undetectable from the nature around you. You hear gobbling coming from the woods and eventually a big tom turkey walks up to you. You get the perfect shot and tag your game. This is what I live for! It is also why my favorite subject in school is science.

I like science because I can learn about animals, plants and how our environment is interrelated. I love the outdoors, hunting, fishing and seeing wildlife. I have a great science teacher who makes science class really fun. Another thing I like in science is learning about the different tools and instruments scientists use in their profession.

A successful hunter who made a career out of his love is Harold Ensley. He is a hunting and fishing guide. Harold Ensley has done more than just fish and hut though. He has filmed his hunts and put them on television. He has also taken other hunters on guided hunting or fishing expeditions on h is land and filmed that for television too. Mr. Ensley inspires me to continue learning about science, because it is a love that could turn into a career some day.

In fifth grade, my favorite subject was history. In sixth grade it was probably science, but as I grow and mature, my interests are changing almost as rapidly as my body. Now as a seventh grader I really love to write. Writing became my passion after reading a book called, A Child Called IT. This book really changed my outlook on what subject I really love. After reading this book, I realized not all books are about adventure fairytale endings. I realized that through writing, I can impact people just like this author did me and so many other readers.

The author of this book, Dave Pelzer, has shown me what an impact an author can have on so many people. Dave grew up outside of San Francisco with his mother, father and four brothers. His mother was an alcoholic and started abusing Dave when he was four years old. The way that his mother treated him was horrible. She called him "the boy" and "it." Dave wrote this book to tell people of the cruel and brutal things that people can do, and to inform people about the abuse that goes on undetected in so many households. Dave Pelzer has inspired me and many other people around the world to make a difference by speaking out against child abuse and other socially sensitive topics.