MUNCIE, Ind. - Who said too much time on the Internet is not profitable?

Kelly Kennedy, a junior finance major from Oxford, Ohio, took home a check for a free semester of tuition after playing Cardinal Knowledge, an interactive Web game for Ball State University students.

"This is totally unexpected. I’ve never won anything in my life," she said.

Kennedy’s name was drawn from a pool of nine finalists who participated in the semester-long game. Each week students who got an "A" (a score of 18 or better out of 20)were entered into a grand-prize drawing for free in-state tuition, provided by First Merchants Bank.

"Students were tested on subjects that we believe make them successful, such as their knowledge of campus resources, study skills and wellness," explained Joseph Abhold, chairman of the Committee for Positive Academic and Student Success (COMPASS) that sponsored the contest.

COMPASS is a one-of-a-kind program among American universities, said Abhold. The committee’s basic goal is to help students succeed by keeping them informed about the university’s many educational and social programs.

COMPASS’ goal helped attract the donation by First Merchants.

"All too often businesses like mine are anxious to spend money on athletic programs," said Tom Buczek, the bank’s senior vice president. "I believe with all my heart that we are missing the boat if we don’t also sponsor programs like these. If this makes a difference in this one student’s life, it’s worth it."

(NOTE TO EDITORS: For more information, contact Abhold by e-mail at jabhold@bsu.ed or by phone at (765) 285-1736. To learn more about the Cardinal Knowledge web game, visit the COMPASS web site at http://www.bsu.edu/compass.)