"Kaye is a great example of what 50+ is in today's world and her essay really brought her story to life," said John Wider, Executive Vice President, AARP Services Inc. "Not only is she an inspiration to our members with all that she's done at age 50+ but she's a talented writer and we're thrilled to give her this award."
Added Rob Gruen, executive vice president of Merchandising and Marketing for Borders Group, "We're so pleased that Kaye was selected as the grand prize winner of the essay contest. She not only continues to achieve her own dreams, but she also mentors and coaches others to do likewise. She truly does inspire us to continue learning, exploring and growing as we get older."
As the grand prize winner of the "Your Next Chapter" essay contest, Moon Winters received a $5,000 grand prize package that included a lifetime AARP membership, a $250 Borders gift card, a portable Reader Digital Book from Sony(R) and a Borders Personal Publishing Premium package from Lulu.com. She also received a trip for two to Washington D.C. where she recently attended AARP's Life@50+ event. In addition to one grand prize winner, five first place winners in the "Your Next Chapter" essay were also chosen. Each first place winner received a five-year AARP membership, a $100 Borders gift card, and a Borders Personal Publishing Standard package from Lulu.com.
Encouraged by her daughter, Moon Winters began taking classes at the age of 55 at San Jacinto College in Pasadena, TX. She went on to graduate summa cum laude with a Bachelor of Arts in English from the University of Houston in 2007. It was her own experiences as an older student and now as an advisor/recruiter for non-traditional students for San Jacinto College that proved to be the inspiration for her essay.
"Being selected as the grand prize winner of the 'Your Next Chapter' essay contest is both an honor and an opportunity," Moon Winters said. "These are my people - my generation - and I know how many of them wish they could find the courage to return to school. The contest provided me the impetus to put my experience on paper and share it with others. I sincerely hope that in doing so I inspire others to pursue their dreams and plans, whatever they may be. If nothing else, perhaps they'll come to realize, as I did, George Eliot's promise: 'It is never too late to be who you might have been.'"
Moon Winters' passion for helping people attain their educational dreams led her to establish San Jacinto's first-ever support group for non-traditional students dubbed "N2L@SJC." More than 200 people now belong to the support group, many of whom meet from time to time to talk about their experiences as students and share lessons learned and strategies for succeeding.
"I see the trepidation in eyes of people who come to campus for the first time, after raising a family or working full time in unfulfilling jobs for many years. Making the decision to go to college isn't easy. And that's just the first step," said Moon Winters. "Adjusting to the demands of academia, getting good grades and making friends amidst peers more suited to your grandchildren, all while juggling everything else going on in your life can be challenging. But as I tell my students, 'I've been in your shoes and I'm here to tell you -- the benefits can be life-changing!'"
Moon Winter's essay can be viewed at http://www.aarp.org/aarp_benefits/offer_gifts/aarp_and_borders_would_like_t o_congratulate_all_th.html and http://www.bordersmedia.com/aarp/.
ABOUT BORDERS GROUP, INC.
Headquartered in Ann Arbor, Mich., Borders Group, Inc. (NYSE: BGP), is a leading retailer of books, music and movies with more than 28,000 employees. Through its subsidiaries, the company operates more than 1,100 stores primarily under the Borders and Waldenbooks(R) brand names and recently launched Borders.com for online shopping. For more information, visit http://www.borders.com/aboutus.
ABOUT AARP
AARP is a nonprofit, nonpartisan membership organization that helps people 50+ have independence, choice and control in ways that are beneficial and affordable to them and society as a whole. AARP does not endorse candidates for public office or make contributions to either political campaigns or candidates. We produce AARP The Magazine, the definitive voice for 50+ Americans and the world's largest-circulation magazine with over 34 million readers; AARP Bulletin, the go-to news source for AARP's 40 million members and Americans 50+; AARP Segunda Juventud, the only bilingual U.S. publication dedicated exclusively to the 50+ Hispanic community; and our website, AARP.org. AARP Foundation is an affiliated charity that provides security, protection, and empowerment to older persons in need with support from thousands of volunteers, donors, and sponsors. We have staffed offices in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
ABOUT AARP SERVICES INC.
AARP Services Inc., founded in 1999, is a wholly owned subsidiary of AARP. AARP Services manages the wide range of products and services that are offered as benefits to AARP's 40 million members. The offers span health products, travel and leisure products, and life event services. Specific products include Medicare supplemental insurance; member discounts on rental cars, cruises, vacation packages and lodging; special offers on technology and gifts; pharmacy services; legal services; and long-term care insurance. AARP Services founded AARP Financial Incorporated, a subsidiary that manages financial products that carry the AARP name, including AARP Funds. AARP Services develops new products, manages and markets products and services, and creates and maintains sponsorship and other relationships.
