LOUISVILLE, KY - KFC's Colonel's Way™ program proudly recognizes Industry sixth grader Hope Jenkins of Ray W. Snyder School, whose essay paying tribute to a special senior earned her the title of 2001 Colonel's Way Award grand-prize winner.

As part of their classroom curriculum, fifth and sixth grade students across the country were asked to interview and write an essay about a special senior (age 55 and up) who has made a positive impact on their lives. The Colonel's Way Award was established by KFC founder Colonel Harland Sanders who opened his world-famous restaurant at the age of 62. Even today, he serves as a reminder of what people can achieve in their later years and is a positive role model for future generations to follow.

"This year's Colonel's Way Award encourages an important dialogue between generations at a time when family togetherness is so important," explained John Gilbert, KFC Corporation chief marketing officer. "By tapping into the useful information that seniors possess but are rarely asked to discuss, our youth can become better prepared for what lies ahead in life."

Jenkins' winning essay described her relationship with her grandmother Eunice Beardshell, whose work ethic, community involvement and selfless nature have made her a positive role model. She is a grandmother on-the-go and someone whose footsteps Jenkins hopes to follow. Her essay was selected based on originality, clarity, language and presentation.

As the grand-prize winner of the 2001 Colonel's Way Award, Jenkins will receive $5,000 cash for her winning essay, an iMac® computer and a $100 KFC gift certificate. Her teacher Karen Carland will be rewarded with $2,500 cash and a $50 KFC gift certificate. State winners were selected from across the country and will be awarded $100 cash and a $50 KFC gift certificate. Teachers who included the project in their curriculum also had a chance to win prizes.

KFC Corporation partnered with in-school publication Weekly Reader to conduct the 2001 Colonel's Way Award program. Weekly Reader, established in 1928 and based in Stamford, CT, is the leading educational publisher of elementary and secondary classroom periodicals in the U.S., and reaches nearly 90% of the nation's school districts with a subscription base of over 11 million children to 17 different magazines.

Serving ready-made, family-style meals, KFC restaurants offer Original Recipeā chicken with a variety of side dishes to please everyone. By bringing home this meal-time favorite, families have more time together to connect and share with each other.

KFC Corporation, based in Louisville, Ky., is the world's most popular chicken restaurant chain specializing in Original Recipe, Extra Crispy™ and Colonel's Crispy Strips® chicken with homestyle sides and freshly made chicken sandwiches. Since its founding by Colonel Harland Sanders in 1952, KFC has been serving customers delicious, already-prepared complete family meals at affordable prices. There are nearly 10,800 KFC outlets in 91 countries around the world serving some 8 million customers each day. KFC is a subsidiary of Tricon Global Restaurants, Inc., Louisville, Ky. (NYSE: YUM)