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Vermont Students Overcome COVID-19 Closures to Participate in 2019-2020 Reading is an Investment Financial Literacy Program

June 10, 2020

MONTPELIER, VT — Vermont State Treasurer Beth Pearce today announced twenty K-6 students who were selected as contest winners for their completion of the Treasurer’s Reading is an Investment financial education program. Despite the onset of COVID-19 and school disruptions, Vermont teachers worked closely with the Treasurer’s Office to ensure more than 4,500 students completed Reading is an Investment this academic year.

“For a decade, the Reading is an Investment program has provided educators a platform to introduce basic money skills to our elementary learners,” said Treasurer Pearce. “This voluntary program is delivered through a partnership with our local schools, and this year our teachers stepped up to complete it as COVID-19 school closures and distance learning took effect. I want to thank all of our educators for making this possible – the work you’ve done in challenging times is extraordinary. I also want to congratulate the winning students, and all the students who completed this year’s program. I hope the skills you developed will help you build a money plan as you move forward in your education and career.”

Reading is an Investment teaches K-6 students basic financial concepts through classroom and library instruction that utilizes a personal reading program. Students who completed the reading challenge had their names entered in a random drawing to win one of twenty $250 college savings accounts provided by the Vermont Student Assistance Corporation (VSAC). People’s United Bank generously underwrote the 2019-2020 program, allowing the Treasurer’s Office to provide it to schools free of charge.

2019-2020 Reading is an Investment winners include: Colton Pearson of Barre Town Elementary School; Jonathan MacDonnell of Brewster-Pierce Memorial School; John Wade of Canaan Schools; Charles Hildebrant of Clarendon Elementary School; Paige Bero of Essex Elementary School; Isabelle Hogle of Franklin Central School; Rhys Gibson-Hirsch of Jericho Elementary School; Teagan Kane of Malletts Bay School; Winston Stattel of Mary Hogan School; Allison Bussino of Mt Holly Elementary School; Levi Machia of Neshobe School; Zylus Hodges of Newport City Elementary School; Andrew Lee of Proctor Elementary School; Abdalla Mubarak of Sustainability Academy; Tristan Hoague of Swanton School; Skiler Farley of Troy School; Lillian O’Dell of Tunbridge Central School; and Aurora Gordon of Underhill Central School. Winning students were also selected from Bethel Elementary School and Morristown Elementary School.

The 2019-2020 program was sent to 142 Vermont schools. Reading is an Investment marked its tenth year this academic term. More than 42,000 completed student reading logs have been submitted to the Treasurer’s Office since its launch a decade ago.

“We look forward to continuing Reading is an Investment in the coming academic year,” said Treasurer Beth Pearce. “If you are interested in signing up, please email TRE.FinancialLiteracy@Vermont.Gov.”

 

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