Remembering Stanley Kaplan, 1919 - 2009

by , Aug 28, 2009

I was very saddened to hear the news of Stanley Kaplans passing this week. I met Stanley not long after I started working for Kaplan, in 1991. It is fair to say that Stanley Kaplan is a big reason why promising students from all backgrounds have a shot at admission to top colleges and grad schools. This is both because Stanley invented the test preparation industry (in his basement!) and because he was ever afterward a relentless advocate for merit over status in admissions. He deserves a great deal of credit for turning the tide. What impressed me the most about him was that even though he had retired from full time CEO duties by the time I met him, he had in no way lost his infectious love of teaching or his enthusiasm for young people trying to improve their lives through education.

Sincerely,

Jose Ferreira

Founder and CEO of Knewton