Public Information and Communication
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
October 18, 2017
FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Mary Jo Ryan
402-471-3434
800-307-2665
Media Contacts:
NEWS RELEASE
Winners of NEST 529 College Savings Read to Win Drawing Honored at Capitol
Fifteen Summer Readers each
Win $529 in College Savings;
Their Libraries Receive $250 each
Lincoln, Neb. (October 18, 2017) – Nebraska State
Treasurer Don Stenberg, First National Bank of Omaha, and the Nebraska
Library Commission presented 15 Nebraska children and teenagers each with a
$529 contribution to a NEST 529 College Savings account today in the fourth
annual Read to Win Drawing at the Nebraska State Capitol Rotunda. Each
winner’s respective library branch was awarded $250.
Out of 13,000 entries, five children were selected at
random from each of Nebraska’s three U.S. Congressional Districts. Children
between the ages of 3 and 18 were automatically entered into the drawing if
they were registered for summer reading programs at their local libraries
and completed local requirements for the programs
“In addition to sparking creativity and improving
critical thinking skills, reading has been associated with higher rates of
academic success among young children,” said State Treasurer Stenberg,
Trustee of NEST. “It is reassuring to see the number of entries rise each
year as we lend support to our community libraries that play a large part in
fostering children’s education and love of books.”
The 2017 winners, their hometowns, and the libraries
where they participated in summer reading are as follows:
District 1:
Braden Anderson, Hallam, Lincoln City Libraries
Lincoln Lappe, Lincoln, Lincoln City Libraries
Brayden Reinboth, Lincoln, Lincoln City Libraries
Jacob Miller, Lincoln, Lincoln City Libraries
Sam Petermann, Lincoln, Lincoln City Libraries
District 2:
Ruth Mansour, Omaha, Omaha Public Library
Elena Miranda, Omaha, Omaha Public Library
Kara Stricklin, Omaha, Omaha Public Library
Jackson Evans, Omaha, Omaha Public Library
Cole Vredeveld, Bennington, Omaha Public Library
District 3:
Ayden Kuebler, Grand Island, Grand Island Public Library
Boaz Roan, Grand Island, Grand Island Public Library
John Tompkins, O’Neill, O’Neill Public Library
Caine Genereux, Bartlett, O’Neill Public Library
Emery Palser, Ravenna, Ravenna Public Library
“At NEST, we encourage children to dream big for their
futures and to achieve their academic goals. Through the fourth annual Read
to Win $529 Drawing, we are proud to promote literacy as well as motivate
families to save for their children’s academic futures,” said Deborah
Goodkin, Managing Director, Savings Plans, First National Bank of Omaha.
To find out more about NEST College Savings Plans,
visit www.NEST529.com or
treasurer.nebraska.gov.
About NEST
NEST is a tax-advantaged 529 college savings plan and provides four plans to
help make saving for college simple and affordable: NEST Direct College
Savings Plan, the NEST Advisor College Savings Plan, the TD Ameritrade 529
College Savings Plan, and the State Farm College Savings Plan. The Nebraska
State Treasurer serves as Program Trustee. First National Bank of Omaha
serves as Program Manager, and all investments are approved by the Nebraska
Investment Council. Families nationwide are saving for college using
Nebraska’s 529 College Savings Plans, which have more than 252,000 accounts,
including 78,000 in Nebraska. Visit NEST529Advisor.com
and treasurer.nebraska.gov for
more information.
About First National Bank of Omaha
First National Bank of Omaha is a subsidiary of First National of Nebraska.
First National of Nebraska is the largest privately owned banking company in
the United States. First National and its affiliates have $20 billion in
managed assets and 5,000 employee associates. Primary banking offices are
located in Nebraska, Colorado, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, South Dakota and
Texas.
Investments Are Not FDIC Insured* No
Bank, State or Federal Guarantee May Lose Value
*Except the Bank Savings Individual Investment Option
# # #
Nebraska Treasurer Don Stenberg with Joanna
Swanson of First National Bank of Omaha and Rod Wagner, director of the
Nebraska Library Commission, and some of the winners of the Read to Win
summer reading program. From left, back row, Caine Genereux of Bartlett,
Braden Anderson of Hallam and Brayden Reinboth of Lincoln. Center row, Emery
Palser of Ravenna, Boaz Roan of Grand Island and Ruth Mansour of Omaha.
Front row, from left, Lincoln Lappe and Jacob Miller of Lincoln.
As the state library agency, the Nebraska Library Commission
is an advocate for the library and information needs of all
Nebraskans. The mission of the Library Commission is statewide
promotion, development, and coordination of library and
information services, “bringing together people and
information.”
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The most up-to-date news releases from the Nebraska Library
Commission are always available on the Library Commission
Website,
http://nlc.nebraska.gov/publications/newsreleases
.