CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. – Treasurer David H. Lillard, Jr. started 2016 by awarding $1,000 scholarships to the ten 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.
One of those ten winners is Grace Apilado, a student at West Creek High School. TNStars College Savings 529 Program, a program of the Tennessee Treasury Department, hosted the holiday scholarship giveaway last month. Grace’s mother, Misoon Apilado, was one of the 2,300 who entered the contest. Her father, Robert, is a United States Army veteran.
“You entered the contest because you care about your child’s future,” Treasurer Lillard said in an address to the families of the scholarship recipients. “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.”
Fifteen year old Grace is already an accomplished musician and hopes to be a fine arts major or become a doctor someday. 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.
Treasurer Lillard told each winner, “The scholarships awarded to you today will get you started—and I can’t wait to see where you go next.”
Winners of the TNStars, 10 Kids: $10,000 Holiday Scholarship Giveaway were selected at random and include families from every region of the state. The beneficiaries range in age from 5-20.