In 2000, to celebrate the new millennium and bring K'NEX into the 21st century, the company held its first ever K'NEXpert building challenge! Kids across the country were invited to build unique construction models made entirely from K'NEX pieces. Entries were submitted via mail in four different -- and fun -- categories. The result? The first-ever panel of K'NEXperts was formed! Now in its third year, the creativity has flourished and the competition has grown more intense making it even harder to select the elite ten.

The 2003 K'NEXpert Panel consists of the following ten members, chosen from hundreds of kids (ages 6-14 years) across the country for their innovation, imagination and creativity. They range in age from 6 to 15 years, hail from cities from coast to coast and even include one pair of siblings!

Paul Romanczyk Age 15 New York
Aaron Burton Age 15 Utah
Kevin Sirianni Age 14 Michigan
Tim Hughes Age 14 Washington
Nate Woodbury Age 13 Utah
Jacob Izraelevitz Age 13 New York
Joshua Wolfe Age 11 Pennsylvania
Rachael Hitchings Age 7 Indiana
Mathew Hitchings Age 10 Indiana
Jaeger Schlumpberger Age 6 Florida

As a member of the honorary K'NEXpert Panel, each of the ten K'NEXperts will be rewarded with various perks throughout the year, including his or her own personal web page at www.knex.com, free K'NEX gear, new K'NEX products, and a generous discount on K'NEX parts that are purchased online. In addition, these K'NEXperts will be invited to share their thoughts and feedback regarding existing and new K'NEX products. Each new panel member will receive an open invitation to tour the K'NEX headquarters and to all local K'NEX sponsored activities throughout the year.

Currently the K'NEX website, www.knex.com displays photos of each of this year's winning entries. Among the amazing creations are replicas of famous landmarks: the George Washington Bridge, the Taj Mahal, the Sears Tower and the Seattle Space Needle.

"Today, K'NEX proudly welcomes ten new bright and creative members to its 2003 K'NEXpert panel. The national search allowed us to see the true enthusiasm kids across the globe continue to have for building and creating with K'NEX," said Chris Campbell, vice president of worldwide marketing for K'NEX.

"We look forward to their insight and expertise during the upcoming year," he concluded.

The excitement doesn't end there. This year, in celebration of K'NEX's 10th Anniversary, one of the ten lucky K'NEXperts will be granted an even more prestigious title -- K'NEX Builder of the Year! From September 30th through November 1st, everyone visiting www.knex.com (and participating retailers) will be invited to vote for the best builder out of our bunch of new 2003 K'NEXperts.

Voters will also have a chance to be a winner. Every person who casts a vote for their choice of Builder of the Year will be automatically entered into the K'NEX "Builder of the Year" sweepstakes in which the following prizes will be awarded:

• Grand Prize Builder of the Year: the entire 2002 K'NEX Product line.
• 25 First Place winners will receive 2-in-1 Arcade sets
• 50 Second Place winners will each receive a 10th Anniversary Building Blocks set and Idea Books
• 75 Third Place winners will take home a K'NEX 10th Anniversary T-shirt.

Founded in 1992, K'NEX Industries was formally established to make and sell what has become one of the world's leading integrated construction systems for children. 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.knex.com or call 1-800-KID-KNEX.