Staff Reports
HANCOCK COUNTY — Promise Indiana Hancock County recently held a random drawing for all kindergarten students who enrolled in the Promise Indiana College Choice 529 program. Four students received a $500 scholarship: Daxton Farris (Eastern Hancock Elementary); Piper Oertel (Sugar Creek Elementary); Wesley Perry (McCordsville Elementary); and Reece Wilson (New Palestine Elementary). Students were given a ceremonial check (nearly as big as the students themselves), while real checks were deposited into their CollegeChoice 529 direct savings accounts that had been set up at kindergarten enrollments.
Promise Indiana Hancock County originated in January 2017 and now has 936 students enrolled. Each year, kindergarten children in Hancock County are eligible for the program. Children who sign-up receive a free CollegeChoice 529 account and a deposit of $25 from community sponsors. If families of the children deposit $25 or more, community partners will provide another $25 contribution. Current sponsors are Greenfield Banking Company, Hancock Health, NineStar Connect, Meijer, The White Family Foundation, Werner Orthodontics, and IUPUI.
The purpose of the program is to bring post-secondary education and careers to the front of mind for kindergartners and their families through a collaborative effort called “The Promise.” The Promise Indiana Hancock County program makes educational savings a reality by helping families to start a CollegeChoice 529 Direct Savings account through their school.
Current kindergartners and those enrolling in kindergarten in the fall are eligible now to sign up for the Promise Indiana Hancock County and receive funds that support their post-secondary education. Parents/guardians can sign up at promiseindiana.iyi.org/hancockcounty.
