Ben Kaplan

Ben Kaplan may refer to:

Ben Kaplan (author)

Ben Kaplan is a Harvard-trained economist, public commentator specializing in education, scholarships and economics, and author of the books How to get to College Almost for Free, and The Scholarship Scouting Report, published by HarperCollins. He has written columns for The New York Times, TIME, and U.S. News & World Report. His "Scholars & Dollars" education column was launched in The Oregonian (Portland's daily newspaper) in 2006. In 2008, he launched a companion radio feature on KMOX-AM in St. Louis. He is a graduate of South Eugene High School in Oregon.

Career and book

Kaplan obtained over two dozen scholarships totaling $90,000 from programs including the Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation, the Hugh O'Brian Youth Leadership Foundation, and the United States Senate Youth Program. This allowed him to finance most of his Harvard education, and led him to write the book How to get to College Almost for Free, which was published by HarperCollins, after Kaplan successfully self-published. He was selected the "Top Student Leader in America" by the National Association of Secondary School Principals.

Ben Kaplan (Spooks)

Ben Kaplan DSO, portrayed by Alex Lanipekun was a starring character in the British spy series, Spooks.

Appearances

Ben Kaplan first appeared in Series 6, Episode 5 as a freelance journalist who was in a relationship with Jo Portman. He tried to expose what was going on with MI5's and Section D's activities in stopping terrorism. During the crisis in which three important diplomats (the Iranian Special Consul Dariush Bakshi, the British Foreign Secretary Ruth Chambers and the CIA's London liaison Bob Hogan, all guests on the TV panel of Ask the Question) are held hostage along with the audience, Ben helps Adam Carter and Ros Myers free the hostages. He is offered a role in the team by Adam but refuses.

However, In Episode 9, Series 6, Ben helps the team uncover a plot to assassinate them before they can make peace with the Middle East. At the end of this ordeal, Harry extends Adam's former offer to join the team and Ben accepts.

By the start of Series 7, he is working for Section D, replacing deceased agent Zafar Younis. He operates in the field, helping Section D to prevent a Russian attack on London and stop Al-Qaeda terrorism attacks. He goes undercover in the financial markets with Lucas North to stop a financier who is planning to ruin the British economy and help protect a 16-year-old boy targeted for assassination by a rogue MI6 officer.