Watkinsville Toddler Wins $10,529 for College in Sweepstakes

One-year-old Isabelle Stoltz had her tiny hands wrapped around an enormous check Thursday at the school district central office in Oconee County.

The Watkinsville child was recently selected as a winner of the 10,000 Reasons to Save Sweepstakes through the Path2College 529 Plan program. She and her parents Heather and David collected the $10,529 prize during a special presentation that coincided with College Savings Month.

“As new parents, planning for Isabelle’s future education early was important to us,” said David Stoltz in a released statement. “When we entered the sweepstakes, we thought it would be a great addition to her college savings if she won. And now, we have a head start for helping her pay for her education.”

A second check in the same amount was also awarded to Oconee County Schools.

"When families commit to educational planning, everyone wins," remarked Superintendent Dr. Jason Branch. "Today is a clear indication of that reality. Oconee County Schools serves nearly 7,000 students in our ten schools, and we take great pride in the success that each student obtains while they are with us. We know that someday soon we'll be celebrating the academic success of Isabelle. Today we're here to celebrate the planning of that academic success."

Branch said the money has already been earmarked for security upgrades throughout schools' campuses.

"We are researching how far that money can go and where we would utilize that best," he said.

Over the past 11 years since Georgia’s 529 plan was established, more than $1.3 billion has been saved utilizing Georgia’s 529 plan, and more than 18,000 Georgia families have withdrawn around $238 million to send Georgian’s to college, according to Mitch Seabaugh, executive director of the Path2College 529 Plan.

Seabaugh said the sweepstakes was so successful that they are already planning a new, similar sweepstakes for 2014. 

For more information on Georgia’s Path2College 529 Plan and its tax advantages or to learn how to start, manage or contribute to a Path2College 529 college savings account, please call 877-424-4377 or visit www.Path2College529.com.