Kaplan Educational Foundation Accepting Applications for Scholarship Program for Community-College Students

The Kaplan Educational Foundation (KEF) is now accepting applications for the Kaplan Leadership Program (KLP), which helps New York City-area community-college students from underserved and underrepresented communities complete their associate’s degree and then earn a bachelor’s degree. The deadline for completed applications is February 1, 2011.

The Kaplan Educational Foundation was created in 2006 by Kaplan, Inc., the global education company and subsidiary of The Washington Post Company (NYSE:WPO).

Each year, the Foundation’s Leadership Program selects between 5-10 students to receive scholarships, which help pay students’ associate’s degree and then bachelor’s degree tuition, as well as stipends for living expenses, books, broadband service, and transportation. Further, the Leadership Program provides students with personalized advising services to help them choose and successfully transfer to a four-year program; personal development and leadership training; mentoring; and cultural enrichment opportunities.

Entering its fifth year, Leadership Program alumni have graduated from such prominent institutions as Morehouse College, Mount Holyoke College, and New York University, and current scholars are attending schools such as Stanford University and Smith College. Profiles of current Kaplan Scholars can be found at www.kaplanedfoundation.org; the Foundation’s online community is at www.facebook.com/KaplanScholars.

"Through our unique combination of mentoring and financial support, the Kaplan Educational Foundation aims to help motivated students overcome the barriers to academic success faced by many from underserved and underrepresented communities,” says Jennifer Benn, Director of the Kaplan Educational Foundation. "We are different from traditional sources of financial assistance or scholarships in that we are 100 percent vested in every step of our students’ journey— advising, listening, counseling, and even traveling with them to assess prospective colleges and universities.”

For more information about the Kaplan Leadership Program, eligibility criteria, and to download an application, please visit www.kaplanedfoundation.org or call 212-707-5300.

About the Kaplan Educational Foundation

The Kaplan Educational Foundation (www.kaplanedfoundation.org) was founded by Kaplan, Inc., a global leader in education and career services. The Foundation provides high-potential, low-income students with academic and financial support, and leadership training to raise their expectations for success and open doors to opportunities that will change their lives and their communities. Follow KEF on Facebook: www.facebook.com/KaplanScholars.

About Kaplan

Kaplan, Inc. (www.kaplan.com) is a leading international provider of educational and career services for individuals, schools and businesses. Kaplan serves students of all ages through a wide array of offerings including higher education, test preparation, professional training and programs for kids in grades K through 12. Kaplan is a subsidiary of The Washington Post Company (NYSE:WPO) and is its largest and fastest-growing division.