Kearney, Neb. (May 24, 2018) – Summer readers at participating
Nebraska libraries will have an opportunity to win a $529 college
savings account from the Nebraska Educational Savings Trust (NEST
529) in the Read to Win $529 Drawing, Nebraska State Treasurer Don
Stenberg said today.
Stenberg, who is Trustee of NEST, announced the fifth annual Read to
Win $529 drawing at a news conference at the Kearney Public Library
during the library’s summer reading kickoff. With Stenberg to
announce the drawing was Sally Snyder, Coordinator of Children and
Young Adult Library Services at the Nebraska Library Commission.
Stenberg encouraged all Nebraska libraries to participate.
Matthew Williams, Director of the Kearney library, and Shawntel
Daniell, Universal Banker with First National Bank, Main Bank,
Kearney, also spoke.
Fifteen summer readers between the ages of 3 and 18 will be selected
in a random drawing to win a $529 contribution each to a NEST 529
College Savings account. Five winners will be selected from each of
Nebraska’s three congressional districts. Children and teens may
participate in the Read to Win $529 drawing, provided they have
completed their local libraries’ requirements for the summer reading
program and have registered through their local libraries before
August 22. Winners will be announced in late September and
recognized in a ceremony at the Capitol in October. More than 13,000
were entered in last year’s drawing. Each winner’s library branch
will receive $250 from NEST.
“We are happy to announce the fifth annual NEST Read to Win $529
drawing, and we want to encourage children and teens to participate.
It’s easy to sign up, and you might just be one of the lucky
winners,” Stenberg said.
“We know children and teens have enjoyed summer reading programs at
their local libraries for years without monetary incentives. The
NEST 529 Read to Win drawing is an ideal opportunity to emphasize
the connection between reading and learning and to help young
readers plan for higher education. Maybe we will plant a seed for
their future educational endeavors and a greater awareness of the
benefits of saving through our Nebraska Educational Savings Trust,”
Stenberg said.
“Reading is a passion of mine; every chance I get, I am reading a
book,” said Shawntel Daniell from First National. “The ability to
help students and their families save for their educational futures
with opportunities such as the NEST Read to Win scholarship is
something all of us at First National Bank are passionate about.”
Nebraska Library Commission Director Rod Wagner, who could not
attend the news conference, issued the following statement: “NEST
Read to Win $529 is an excellent incentive for Nebraska Summer
Reading Program participants and a great way to bring awareness to
Nebraska’s 529 College Savings Plans. Young readers become lifelong
learners and will benefit from college savings plans when they
advance to higher education.
“Nebraska public libraries’ summer reading programs are great
opportunities for children and teens to take time to enjoy reading
while maintaining and improving reading skills. They can also enjoy
the activities that are part of this summer’s Libraries Rock
program. We thank State Treasurer Stenberg and First National Bank
for the college savings drawing for Nebraska Summer Reading Program
participants.”
For scholarship contest rules, visit
www.NEST529.com and click on
Grow. Select Scholarships & Rewards. Contest rules also are
available at
https://treasurer.nebraska.gov/csp/scholarships.
For more information on the Nebraska Summer Reading Program visit
the Nebraska Library Commission’s website at
http://nlc.nebraska.gov/youth/summerreading/ or contact a local
library.
To find out more about NEST College Savings Plans, visit
www.NEST529.com or
treasurer.nebraska.gov.
About Nebraska Library Commission
As Nebraska’s 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.
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 254,000 accounts,
including 80,000 in Nebraska. Visit
NEST529.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 and its affiliates have more
than $21 billion in 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
###
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.