At the height of the Great Depression, a 14-year-old named Stanley Kaplan tutored an adolescent underachiever to academic success, sparking a business that became an educational pioneer that has helped millions of students achieve their academic and career goals. To honor its inspiring and visionary founder and help make the college dream more accessible for students today, Kaplan Test Prep is again sponsoring its "Stanley's Story, Your Story" contest. High school students are invited to write and submit an essay -- of 100 words or less--about who inspired them most and why. A selected group of essay enthusiasts from Kaplan will then winnow down the thousands of expected entries to 10 and post them to Kaplan's Facebook page at www.facebook.com/KaplanSAT, where they will be voted on by the public. First prize will be $3,000; the second place winner will receive $1,000; the third place winner will receive a free 2013 Kaplan SAT or ACT Classroom Course.

"We are excited to launch our second annual 'Stanley's Story, Your Story' contest not only because we want to advance our longtime goal of making higher education accessible to as many students as possible, but also because we know we will be inspired ourselves by what students share with us," said Kate Hurley, SAT and ACT programs manager, Kaplan Test Prep. "We look forward to reading what this year's group of students has to say on who inspires them."

Derrian Lewis, of Bible Grove, Illinois, was among the more than 3,000 teens who participated in last year's contest. Below is an excerpt from her first place essay:

"As I was flipping through the television channels one day, I came upon a news story about an orthopedic surgeon, Dr. Ted Rummel. ... He is a paraplegic surgeon who continues to practice from his wheelchair...As I watched this story, I felt so inspired because I myself have a physical disability that requires the use of a wheelchair. Throughout my high school career, I have had to make a plan for my future and have decided to pursue a career in the medical field. For a few years now, I have really been interested in becoming a surgeon, but have had so many people tell me, 'you cannot be a surgeon, you're in a wheelchair.'... Dr. Rummel has shown me that I CAN be a surgeon and a good one too...Dr. Ted Rummel has truly inspired me to follow my dream and become a surgeon!"

To submit a "Stanley's Story, Your Story" essay, students should visit www.kaptest.com/stanley.

About Kaplan Test Prep

Kaplan Test Prep (www.kaptest.com) is a premier provider of educational and career services for individuals, schools and businesses. Established in 1938, Kaplan is the world leader in the test prep industry. With a comprehensive menu of online offerings as well as a complete array of print books and digital products, Kaplan offers preparation for more than 90 standardized tests, including entrance exams for secondary school, college and graduate school, as well as professional licensing exams for attorneys, physicians and nurses. Kaplan also provides private tutoring and graduate admissions consulting services.

Note to editors: Kaplan is a subsidiary of The Washington Post Company (NYSE: WPO)

Press:
Kaplan Test Prep
Russell Schaffer, 212-453-7538
russell.schaffer@kaplan.com
Twitter: @KapTestNews