Wichita Real Estate Agent Scoops Up $75K Grand Prize

Aliso Viejo , Calif. August 31, 2005 –Today the Real Estate Apprentice™ Foundation proudly announced that its panel of 12 Judges selected Kathleen “Katie” Wyatt as the Season II Grand Prize Winner. Katie was chosen out of 3,593 grant applicants based on salesmanship, communication skills, entrepreneurial spirit, integrity, creativity and uniqueness.

Grant winners (together with the name of the real estate company where they work and the real estate school from which they graduated are:

Honorable mentions include:

Katie, who is a full time agent with New Home Marketing in Wichita Kansas, just passed her real estate exam in February 2005 and has already racked up a phenomenal 11 listings and 11 sales. Her sales were not only in new homes but 50% of her transactions included existing homes. Katie will receive $75,000 worth of real estate education products, instruction, books and services from the Foundation, courtesy of various leading companies that sponsor the only national grant competition program helping new agents become more successful.

Mrs. Wyatt took her real estate licensing courses at Career Education Systems (CES) of Wichita, Kansas, an Affiliate of the RealtyU ® network of real estate schools and a school having an outstanding reputation for its students passing the real estate exam. “We don’t just prepare students to pass the real estate exam,” says Mark Barker, CEO of CES, “our mission is to be their guide to real estate excellence.” According to Barker, "the Real Estate Apprentice™ program recognizes and encourages excellence early in the agents’ careers and we are pleased to be a sponsor the Grant Program."

Katie will receive the following real estate education, products, services and tools:

First American Resident Group will be providing Katie with a n integrated set of tools used during all phases of a real estate transaction from listing to closing, including: Document management and storage, Smart task management including auto-calculation of due dates, Collaboration with transaction participants, Vendor management, Messaging and activity log and a form letter wizard with mail merge.

Hobbs/Herder will provide Katie with a comprehensive personal identity and marketing package including: Custom personal logo and a stationary package with the design and printing of business cards, letterheads and envelopes. A customized personal marketing campaign including the design and printing of custom personal brochure, custom personal PowerKards®; and the design and building of a custom personal website .

McLean International will provide the Katie with hands-on technology and business systems including: Coordination of business vision and plan, Coordination of marketing plan, Office setup for maximum functionality and efficiency, Selection and set up of electronic signatures, voice messaging, buyer and seller file set up, management of calls, email, paperwork and the daily organizing and prioritization tasks and projects.

RealtyU® will continue to provide Katie with quality real estate education and training including u nlimited free attendance to any real estate course offered by any RealtyU ® Real Estate School or College for one year anywhere in the USA to obtain any real estate designation or to even complete future continuing education credits. Courses can be taken at any of the 120 RealtyU ® real estate campuses across the USA or online.

iSucceed will provide Katie with unlimited access to unlimited online real estate mentoring, including weekly counseling calls, hundreds of business tips, tools, money-making systems and real estate marketing strategies for two years, a Home Sellers Workbook and a Home Buyers Workbook and an unlimited “Ask your Mentor” service.

Success Strategies Institute will provide Katie with a one-year membership in a Personal Coaching System which includes: Evaluation of strengths, weaknesses, goals and desires, Design of a success plan, Skill building focusing on lead generation strategies, listing presentations, objection handling, marketing, Mastermind Meetings for brainstorming/goal setting and CD’s on lead generation and time management system.

Thomson Learning will be providing Katie with a comprehensive set of real estate books on topics such as Business planning, Marketing, Prospecting, Internet technology, Branding, Team building, Communication, Financial planning and Legal issues.

The Real Estate Apprentice™ Foundation will provide Katie with a cash allowance to cover annual membership dues for her local, state and the National Association of REALTORS®, MLS fees and other small business expenses not covered elsewhere plus. In addition, a set of technology tools including: Laptop Computer, Printer, Cell phone and a Personal Digital Assistant including business service for one year.

Calculated Industries will provide Katie with a 3430 Qualifier Plus IIIFX Calculator and an Ultrasonic Distance Measurer with a Laser-pointer. The Kit helps agents increase productivity and enhances sales techniques.

The Real Estate Cyberspace Society will provide Katie with a complimentary one year membership to the Real Estate Cyberspace Society.

RIS Media and Broker Agent News will provide Katie with a one-year subscription to Broker Agent News and National Real Estate & Relocation in addition to their online news service.

“We thank every one of the thousands of applicants, numerous judges and every sponsor for making Season II more spectacular and larger than Season I,” said Dr. Martin Oliver, Deputy Executive Director of The Apprentice™ Foundation. “The number of applications doubled over Season I and the quality of candidates was extraordinary, thereby making the selection of the finalists and the overall winner enormously difficult. The Judges did a superb job and we look forward to their ongoing evaluation and to help the new generations of Rookie agents.”

Season III of the Apprentice competition opened July 1 st, 2005 and will run through December 31 st, 2005. Real estate students who have taken or will be taking their new agent pre-licensing class during the Season III time-frame or 90 days prior, or those who were newly licensed for the first time as an agent during that same time frame can enter the grant program by simply applying online. Companies interested in providing their products or services as part of the Grant Sponsorship program should contact Dr. Oliver at Dr.Oliver@ReApprentice.com or by phone at 949-349-9394 ext 107.