The populations P (in thousands) of a certain town in North Carolina, from 2006 through 2012 can be modeled by
P = 5.5e^kt,
where t is the year, with
t = 6
corresponding to 2006. In 2008, the population was 7000.

Find the value of k for the model. Round your result to four decimal places.

Use your model to predict the population in 2018. (Round your answer to the nearest person.)