November 11

Alaska 529 announces 2019 scholarship account winner

WHAT: A lucky Soldotna woman will receive an early birthday surprise-- a $25,000 scholarship. Marta Taylor thinks that she is having lunch with her husband and daughter to celebrate her birthday. She doesn’t know that representatives from the Education Trust of Alaska will present her with a college scholarship check and a birthday cake. Taylor was selected in a random drawing as the winner of a $25,000 scholarship from Alaska 529’s Scholarship Account Giveaway. This is the first time she checked the box on her PFD application to contribute half of her PFD to an Alaska 529 education savings account.

WHO: Marta Taylor, a Soldotna resident who is taking online courses in computer science.

WHEN: 12 p.m. on Monday, Nov. 11.

WHERE: Froso's Family Dining, 35433 Kenai Spur Highway in Soldotna.

BACKGROUND: Alaska 529 was established in 2001 to encourage individuals to save for college. Individuals enrolled in Alaska 529 may use their account to pay for education expenses at any eligible college, university, or vocational/technical school in Alaska or the Lower 48 or K-12 tuition at public, private or religious schools. Families can open one of the tax-advantaged accounts with their PFD contribution, or with as little as $25 a month. Since 2008, the Education Trust of Alaska has drawn one winner annually from among the thousands of Alaskans who checked the box to deposit at least half of their PFD into an Alaska 529 savings account. The promotion provides Alaska families an extra incentive to save their PFD for education expenses. This year, 13,056 applicants entered the drawing. Learn more at Alaska529plan.com.

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For more information, contact Lael Oldmixon, director of Alaska 529 at (802) 310-9563.