Clarksville’s Grace Apilado awarded $1,000 scholarship from TNStars

Tennessee Treasurer David Lillard Awards $10,000 in TNStars Scholarships to Winners from Around the State

Nashville, TN – Treasurer David H. Lillard, Jr. started 2016 by awarding $1,000 scholarships to the winners of the TNStars, 10 Kids: $10,000 Holiday Scholarship Giveaway.

The winners and their families gathered at the Tennessee State Capitol this week for a special celebration with the Treasurer, joined by Speaker Beth Harwell and Representatives Susan Lynn and Mike Carter.

“I was honored to attend the event this week that saw ten children win $1,000 scholarships”, said Speaker Beth Harwell. “The TNStars program is an excellent tool for parents and other family members to contribute to a child’s college savings, and put them on the path to a bright future.”

TNStars College Savings 529 Program, a program of the Tennessee Treasury Department, hosted the holiday scholarship giveaway last month. More than 2,300 Tennessee families entered to win one of ten $1,000 scholarships into a TNStars account.

“You entered the contest because you care about your child’s future,” Treasurer Lillard said in an address to the families. “I hope you will continue to save for each of their futures. The money contributed into a TNStars account will grow as your child grows.”

Parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, and family friends are invited to open and give to TNStars accounts. Research shows that children with college savings accounts are six to seven times more likely to attend a four-year college, compared to children with no dedicated account.

“The scholarships awarded to you today will get you started—and I can’t wait to see where you go next,” Treasurer Lillard said.

Tennessee adults were eligible to enter the contest. The winners of the TNStars, 10 Kids: $10,000 Holiday Scholarship Giveaway were selected at random and include families from every region of the state. After they were notified by TNStars officials, the winners were asked to name a beneficiary for the scholarship award. The beneficiaries range in age from 5-20.

The winners and their beneficiaries are

About TNStars

Nationally ranked for investment performance, TNStars is designed to give Tennessee families high quality investment options at a low cost to help them put aside money for higher education expenses. Tennesseans can invest directly with the program and money can be withdrawn tax-free from a TNStars account as long as it is used for qualified post-secondary education expenses.

Funds invested in TNStars 529 accounts can be used at any post-secondary institution that accepts Federal Financial Aid, including four-year public or private universities, and college of applied technologies in or outside the state of Tennessee.

For more information about the TNStars College Savings 529 program, visit www.TNStars.com