Shirley Hills Elementary student wins “We Care, Child Care” sweepstakes

Anaya West, a second grade student at Shirley Hills Elementary School, was deemed one of four winners of the Path2College 529 Plan program’s “We Care, Child Care,” sweepstakes, Wednesday.

West was presented a check for $1,529 for her Patch2College 529 Plan account. West was all smiles and shared that she plans to go to college to help others who are less fortunate as well as has goals to become the next President of the United States. West’s mother, Adria, found out about the sweepstakes through school. Adria is a student at Central Georgia Technical College, studying construction management.

“We are overjoyed,” Adria said. “I really didn’t expect to win, but this is a wonderful surprise, and I am so grateful for this scholarship and hope that it continues to motivate my daughter.”

With West being one of the four winners, her childcare facility, the Childcare Development Center at Central Georgia Technical College, was also awarded $529. The Path2College 529 Plan and the Georgia Department of Early Care and Learning (DECAL) sponsored the sweepstakes to help raise awareness about the importance of saving for continued education among young children across the state. Winners were chosen randomly from four regions—Metro Atlanta, Southeast, North and South Georgia.

Mitch Seabaugh, Executive Director of Path2College 529 Plan, said it’s important for children to have a college savings account.

“One of the reasons it’s so important for children to have a college savings account is because there are studies that show children who have one regardless of the amount of money they have is seven times more likely to actually go to college. I get a lot of parents who think it’s too late, but no, it’s never to late. It’s one less dollar than you would have to take out in a student loan. That can make the difference in children going or not going. But we are just so excited for Anaya today, and we know she is going to have a bright and successful future.”

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