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Pre-K Center student gets college contribution
Liberty Pre-K Center
Path2College and DECAL awarded Liberty Pre-K Center student Michaiah Simmons $1,529 toward her future college expenses. Shown with Simmons is her mother, Ilma Miller. Photo provided

Liberty Pre-K Center student Michaiah Simmons was awarded $1,529 for her college education to help achieve her dreams. Simmons was a winner of the 2024 Path from Pre-K to College Sweepstakes, which was held by Georgia’s Path-2College 529 Plan and the Department of Early Care and Learning (DECAL).

“When I received the news that my baby won the college sweepstakes I was so elated not just for her but the school as well. As a single mom I face a lot of financial challenges, and this is truly a blessing that now I have a head start on my baby girl’s future. The sky’s the limit baby,” said Ilma Miller, Michaiah’s mom who entered her in the sweepstakes.

Four Georgia children — one in Metro Atlanta, Southeast, North and South Georgia — were randomly selected as winners of the sweepstakes. In the Southeast region, Simmons’ school, Liberty Pre-K Center, was also awarded $1,529 as part of the sweepstakes.

“On behalf of the Liberty County Pre-K Center and the Liberty County School District, I would like to thank you for your generous contribution to our school. We are delighted to receive this donation as a result of one of our students winning the sweepstakes,” said Sadie Boone, Liberty Pre-K Center director. “Thank you for investing in education and the future of our students. The opportunity provided by Georgia’s Path2College 529 Plan, in conjunction with Decal through the sweepstakes, will make a lasting impact on the sweepstake winners.”

This is the seventh year that Path2College and DECAL have partnered to award students and schools money through the Path from Pre-K to College Sweepstakes. The sweepstakes has awarded more than $55,000 to Georgia students and schools since its inception.

“We are proud to partner with the Georgia Department of Early Care and Learning to promote financial planning for education through the Path from Pre-K to College Sweepstakes,” said Georgia Student Finance Commission President Lynne Riley. “This sweepstakes encourages parents and grandparents to focus on saving for education early. Saving regularly over time makes an impact, and this sweepstakes will help four Georgia families get a jump-start on their college savings.”

The annual sweepstakes is designed to promote the importance of continued education and financial planning to help Georgia children realize their dreams through continued education.

“Pre-K helps build an academic foundation for life-long learning,” said DECAL Commissioner Amy M. Jacobs. “These funds will help Michaiah’s family build a financial foundation to support her higher ed or workforce plans.”

For more information about the Path2College 529 Plan or to open a college savings account, visit www.Path2College529. com or call (877) 4244377.

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