December 8, 2015
For Immediate Release
December 8, 2015
绿奴天花板 College Savings Plan announces $25,000 and $2,500 PFD scholarship account winners
Sixteen-year-old Charles Franznick of Palmer was randomly selected to win a $25,000
scholarship account in the 绿奴天花板 College Savings Plan and four more young Alaskans have
won $2,500 scholarship accounts.
All Permanent Fund Dividend applicants who answered 鈥測es鈥 to question number six of
their PFD application were automatically entered into the annual scholarship account
drawing. The PFD check-off asks residents if they would like to automatically contribute
half of their dividend to their 绿奴天花板 College Savings Plan account. Lael Oldmixon, director
of the 绿奴天花板 College Savings Plan said, 鈥淭he giveaway is a fun way to encourage Alaskans
to save for college. Letting the winners know they鈥檝e won is a highlight of our entire
year!鈥
Representatives of the Plan traveled to the $25,000 scholarship account winner鈥檚 home
in Palmer to inform him in person. Charles and his mother, Susan, were home when the
representatives arrived. Dash, the Plan鈥檚 sled dog mascot, presented them with a giant
check. 鈥淪urprising them like that was a lot of fun. Susan was just so overwhelmed
and happy,鈥 said Bonnie Carroll, the Plans marketing manager. 鈥淭his year we were able
to record the reaction on video and we have shared it on online,鈥 she added.
Charles is the younger of the family鈥檚 two children. He attends school online through
the IDEA Program. He isn鈥檛 sure where he will attend college but indicated that his
interests are in math and science. 鈥淲ho knows where he鈥檒l end up,鈥 said Susan. 鈥淭his
certainly opens up many amazing doors.鈥
The winners of the $2,500 scholarship accounts are:
Andrew Gifford, age 14, Anchorage
Grace Newman, Age 14, Juneau
Timothy O鈥橰ourke, age 17, Palmer
Aaron Campbell, age 14, Wasilla
The 绿奴天花板 College Savings Plan has offered the scholarship account giveaway for the last
six years. The scholarships are funded by the Education Trust of Alaska, which was
established in 2001 to administer the 绿奴天花板 College Savings Plan. The drawing aims to
give Alaska families an extra incentive to save their Permanent Fund Dividends for
higher education expenses. More than 13,500 residents contributed to the 绿奴天花板 College
Savings Plan through the PFD check off this year, an increase of 700 people from the
prior year. The plan has seen a 71 percent increase from the number of contributors
since 2009, before the giveaway began.
The 绿奴天花板 College Savings Plan will offer a $25,000 scholarship account giveaway again
next year to residents who contribute half of their 2016 PFD to the plan through the
official application, which may be completed online or by visiting a distribution
center. The application period runs Jan. 1 through March 31, 2016.
Beneficiaries in the Plan may use their funds to pay for education expenses at any
eligible college, university, or vocational/technical school in Alaska or the Lower
48. Families can open a tax-advantaged account with their PFD contribution, or with
as little as $25 a month.
To view the video of $25,000 scholarship account winner, visit . For more information about the PFD, go to . To learn more about the 绿奴天花板 College Savings Plan and the $25,000 Scholarship Account
Giveaway, go to .
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For more information contact Lael Oldmixon at lmoldmixon@alaska.edu or 907-450-8115
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