Teaneck, New Jersey's Gabriel Johnson Advances in Reader's Digest National Word Power Challenge(SM)

ORLANDO, Fla., April 24 /PRNewswire/ -- Gabriel Johnson, an eighth grade student from Ben Franklin Middle School in Teaneck, today became one of ten contestants to advance to the championship round of the Reader's Digest National Word Power Challenge(SM) to be held tomorrow in Florida at the Portofino Bay Hotel at Universal Orlando(R), a Loews Hotel. Gabriel Johnson was the New Jersey state winner of the fourth annual national vocabulary competition and educational outreach program of the Reader's Digest Association.

(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20060424/NYM200 )

Tomorrow (4/25), the 10 finalists will vie for $50,000 in college scholarships. The first place winner will receive a $25,000 college scholarship. Second- and third-place winners will receive college scholarships of $15,000 and $10,000 respectively. The scholarship checks will be presented by the program sponsor, Kellogg's Frosted Mini-Wheats. Additional support for the program has been provided by BIC(R) stationery products and the Portofino Bay Hotel. The winners will also receive Reader's Digest products for their schools.

"We're excited for the students who have made the championship round of the fourth annual Reader's Digest National Word Power Challenge," said Kathleen Bordelon, Program Director. "This year's competitors have been absolutely terrific, and we congratulate all of the state champions. We are looking forward to a spirited final competition tomorrow."

This year, nearly two million fourth through eighth grade students have competed nationwide in the Reader's Digest National Word Power Challenge. The competition began last fall with school-administered contests, followed by championships in all 50 states, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and the Department of Defense Dependents Schools. Schools are encouraged to register for next year's competition at http://www.wordpowerchallenge.com/.

Al Roker, NBC Today show co-host and feature reporter, returns as quizmaster for the championship round.

A television special based on the Reader's Digest National Word Power Challenge will be produced by Al Roker Entertainment, Inc. and will be broadcast on NBC stations in May, 2006.

About Kellogg

With 2005 sales in excess of $10 billion, Kellogg Company is the world's leading producer of cereal and a leading producer of convenience foods, including cookies, crackers, toaster pastries, cereal bars, frozen waffles, and meat alternatives. The Company's brands include Kellogg's, Keebler, Pop- Tarts, Eggo, Cheez-It, Club, Nutri-Grain, Rice Krispies, All-Bran, Special K, Mini-Wheats, Chips Deluxe, Sandies, Morningstar Farms, Famous Amos, and Kashi. Kellogg products are manufactured in 17 countries and marketed in more than 180 countries around the world. For more information, visit Kellogg's web site at http://www.kelloggcompany.com/.

About BIC(R)

BIC(R), a leading international distributor of stationery products in more than 160 countries worldwide, is appreciated the world over for products of quality, affordability and ease of use. BIC(R) products are part of the daily lives of millions of consumers, making BIC(R) one of the best-known international brands.

About Portofino Bay Hotel

The 750-room Portofino Bay Hotel opened in September 1999 as the premier luxury property at Universal Orlando Resort, offering the utmost in European style and elegance. Complete with cobblestone streets, outdoor cafes and trompe l'oeil painting, the hotel is a re-creation of the famed Mediterranean seaside village of Portofino, Italy. Portofino Bay Hotel is a AAA Four Diamond hotel and has received recognition from Travel & Leisure and Conde Nast Traveler as one of the best hotels in the world.

About Universal Orlando Resort

Universal Orlando Resort includes two dramatically distinct and adjacent, theme parks: the Universal Studios motion picture- and television-based theme park and Islands of Adventure, Orlando's most thrilling and exhilarating theme park. Universal Orlando Resort also includes CityWalk, a 30-acre dining, shopping and live-entertainment venue as well as three premier on-site Loews hotels and world-class film and television production facilities.

The Reader's Digest National Word Power Challenge is a program of Reader's Digest, the most widely read magazine in the world, and The Reader's Digest Association Inc. . Reader's Digest has challenged readers of all ages with its vocabulary-building feature, Word Power, since 1945. This popular feature in the magazine first evolved into a national competition for school-age students in 2002.