May 13, 2015
Annual “5/29 College Savings Day” offers excellent time for families to start saving
For Immediate Release
May 13, 2015
The University of Alaska College Savings Plan joins state savings plans around the
nation on May 29 (5/29) in celebrating “5/29 College Savings Day” and the importance
of saving for education expenses.
“Higher education is one of the best investments a person can make,” said Lael Oldmixon,
UA College Savings Plan director. “I encourage Alaska families to take some time on
5/29 College Savings Day to discuss college savings goals as a family and learn how
a college savings plan can help make those goals a reality.”
The UA College Savings Plan will host a series of 5/29 Day events. In Anchorage on
May 16, plan staff will celebrate at the Reading Rendezvous event from noon-4 p.m.
on the lawn at the Loussac Library. In Fairbanks on May 29, they will host a celebration
from 2 p.m. - 5 p.m. at the Fairbanks Children’s Museum, in partnership with Fairbanks
Families, the Northstar Imagination Library and Thread. Both events will offer refreshments,
activities, giveaways and information about the UA College Savings Plan.
“It is never too early to set an expectation that going to college is essential in
today’s world. We want to help the families who participate in 5/29 Day events get
a head start toward saving for college,” said Oldmixon.
Additionally, during May the plan will give away a limited number of its popular T-shirts.
To request a free shirt visit the UA College Savings Plan’s Facebook page at www.facebook.com/ak529.
This year, blue shirts feature a diploma and the words, “Watch out college, here I
come!” UA is asking recipients to share photos of their youngsters wearing the shirts
on the UA College Savings Plan’s Facebook page.
“We enjoyed seeing kids across the state sporting their shirts so much that we decided
to do it again,” Oldmixon said. “The real aim though is to get both parents and children
thinking about education and workforce training beyond high school.”
The UA College Savings Plan is one of the top-rated 529 plans in the country and is
helping thousands of Alaska families save for future college expenses. T. Rowe Price,
a well-known financial services provider, manages the plan on behalf of UA. Accounts
in the plan grow tax-free and distributions from accounts are tax free when used to
pay for qualified college expenses at any institution, including the University of
Alaska. Alaskans can invest in the plan directly, through employer payroll deduction
or through the Alaska Permanent Fund Dividend. To learn more about the UA College
Savings Plan, visit http://www.uacollegesavings.com.
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More information: Lael Oldmixon, 907-450-8115 or lmoldmixon@alaska.edu
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