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GRAND PRIZE WINNERS OF THE 'JUNIOR ENGINEERS FOR BRITAIN K'NEX CHALLENGE' VISIT THE UNITED STATES

Success of British Program Prompts K'NEX to Consider Implementing Sister Program in United States

HATFIELD, PA - August 9, 2004 - K'NEX Industries, one of the world's leading manufacturers of children's constructions sets, is preparing to host two young, aspiring engineers from overseas. Ten year-olds Megan Thomas and Simon Bentley, from Wales, Great Britain, teamed up to win the Junior Engineers for Britain K'NEX Challenge, and are coming to the United States to visit the K'NEX headquarters as part of their prize package.

The goal of the Junior Engineers for Britain K'NEX Challenge is to provide school children with an introduction to the exciting world of engineering and technology. Over 3,000 schools throughout the UK and Ireland participated in the competition this summer. The design and build competition is open to all primary schools and organizations teaching 7 to 11 year-olds.

To participate in the challenge, students pair up to design and build a model out of K'NEX Education construction kits that meet a specific design brief. The models are then judged by experienced engineers. There are three stages of challenge: The School Challenge, whose winners progress to the Regional Challenge, whose winners finally go on to the National Challenge. The national final design brief asked the 12 final teams to design an Olympic stadium, with a roof that opened and closed. They had 90 minutes to complete the task

Megan and Simon won the National Challenge, which was held on July 19th at the old Royal Naval College in Greenwich, outside of London, England. Their prize package includes their very own K'NEX building set, a K'NEX Education set for their school, and cash donation of 1,000 pounds (or cash equivalent of $2,000) to their school. In addition, both Megan and Simon will come to the United States on August 20th to tour the K'NEX headquarters, meet the inventor of the K'NEX building system, Joel Glickman, and to do some sightseeing throughout Philadelphia.

The Junior Engineers for Britain K'NEX Challenge has become such a successful program, that K'NEX is now looking to start a sister program here in the United States. The hope is to find a partner much like The Young Engineers of UK, which is an education charity whose purpose it to inspire young people to recognize the importance and excitement of a career in engineering.

"Custom designed K'NEX Education sets, featuring inquiry based lesson plans, are extensively used in grades 3-10 throughout the United States. The sets help students achieve state and national curriculum standards in Math and Science through building solutions to design problems," says Stewart McMeeking, Vice President of Education for K'NEX. "This inquiry approach completely mirrors the goals of the Junior Engineers of Britain, and therefore would make a similar K'NEX Challenge here in the US, quite easy to implement," he continued.

About K'NEX Industries
Founded in 1992, K'NEX Industries was established to make and sell what has become one of the world's leading construction systems for children. K'NEX is also the U.S. licensee for the well-known and loved Lincoln Logs Brand. Winner of over 150 international awards and recognitions, K'NEX seeks to build young minds with its exciting product line and critically acclaimed K'NEX Education program. For more information, consumers can visit www.knexeducation.com.

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Contact:
Melissa Fogarty/Beth Mosher
LITZKY PUBLIC RELATIONS
(201) 222-9118
email: mfogarty@litzkypr.com
email: bmosher@litzkypr.com

About K’NEX Brands

Founded in 1992, K’NEX Brands, the world’s most innovative construction toy company, was established to make and sell what has become one of the world’s leading integrated construction systems for children. Winner of over 200 international awards and recognitions, K’NEX is America’s building toy company focused on Building Worlds Kids Love, and encourages youngsters to “imagine, build and play.”  For more information, please visit www.knex.com.