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Press Releases

American Education Services Announces Winners Of The $20,000 Lighten Your Loan Sweepstakes^SM
Two Pennsylvania Students Win $2,500 Second Prize

Harrisburg, PA (June 22, 2007) - American Education Services (AES) announces the four winners of the spring 2007 $20,000 Lighten Your Loan Sweepstakes. The sweepstake awards four loan payments, totaling $20,000, to individuals from California to Pennsylvania. Winners will use their prize money to pay down their student loan debt.

The $20,000 Lighten Your Loan Sweepstakes is part of AES’ public service campaign, YouCanDealWithIt.com, which emphasizes the significance of repaying student loans, the long-term implications of default, and the importance of debt management and financial responsibility. The sweepstakes was held in the fall and spring semesters of this year. The four winners are as follows:

• $10,000 Grand Prize was awarded to Jennifer Andrashko from St. Paul, Minnesota. Jennifer, a 2004 graduate of the University of Wisconsin Eau Claire, is starting graduate school at the University of Minnesota in September. “Being the grand prize winner has significantly changed my financial situation and will make it a lot easier for me to attend graduate school,” said Andrashko.
• $5,000 First Prize was awarded to Timothy Reed from San Jose, California. Timothy, a graduate of Santa Clara Law School, currently works at the Law Offices of Robert Baker. Reed said, “Before the sweepstakes, I had some trouble paying off my loan. Winning this prize has helped lower my loan payments to a reasonable amount.”
• $2,500 Second Prize was awarded to Shawn Kutsmeda from New Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Shawn currently attends Pennsylvania College of Technology where he studies masonry. Kutsmeda said, “The sweepstakes has made it much easier financially for me. Now I will have to pay less in the future.”
• $2,500 Second Prize was awarded to Robert Vertullo from Mars, Pennsylvania. Robert, a recent graduate from Penn State University, works as a software developer and computer programmer analyst. Vertullo, currently enrolled in an MBA program, said, “Winning the sweepstakes has helped me more than you know.”

“We’re excited to be able to help these four winners repay part of their student loans and lessen their financial burden,” said AES President and C.E.O. Dick Willey. “AES understands that more and more students are graduating with debt and we are committed to supporting these students with tools to help them to understand and manager their debt obligations.”

YouCanDealWithIt.com was launched in 1999 and provides students with information, techniques, tools and practical advice on how to approach common financial situations they will face. YouCanDealWithIt.com is part of a nationally recognized campaign to lower the number of students who default on their student loans. The Default Prevention campaign has resulted in an all-time low AES cohort default rate.