Teach Children to Save program awards savings bonds to students

Austin Bank recently selected student winners from Whitehouse and Troup ISD in its "Teach Children to Save" Program. Students were awarded a $50 savings bond as part of this financial literacy education program which included a bank-sponsored coloring contest for elementar y school students and instructional materials for each teacher.

Overall, Austin Bank awarded $50 savings bonds to 202 student winners in its "Teach Children to Save" coloring contest.

The bank's financial education program recognized the artistic work of East Texas elementary students in kindergarten, first, second and third grade from 71 school districts within East Texas. Art work from approximately 27,000 students was judged by each local Austin Bank.

Winners were chosen from each participating elementary school. Student winners from the Whitehouse schools included:

Cain Elementary School: Lindsey Craft , kindergarten, and Hannah McGinnis, first grade

Brown Elementary School: Jake Clemmons, second grade

Higgins Intermediate School: Samantha Gustofson, third grade

Student winners from Troup ISD included:

Tyler Lloyd, kindergarten; Holly Weathers, first grade; Renee Dennis, second grade; and Tristan Boswell, third grade.

Teach Children to Save is an educational program that focuses on the importance of saving and money-management skills. In this program, students were invited to color a drawing. In addition, instructional resources were provided to the teachers along with children's books.

The bank donated 1,073 copies of the books "Bunny Money" by Rosemary Wells and "Dollars and Sense" by Stan and Jan Berenstain to elementary school classrooms.

Schools in all communities served by Austin Bank's 23 locations were invited to participate in "Teach Children to Save." Teaching tools and materials were distributed to 72 school districts including public and private schools throughout East Texas.

"We want this program to help children gain money-management skills and be better prepared to make financial decisions in the future. All children should be encouraged to save, share and spend wisely as the basics of this program demonstrate," said Jeff Austin III, vice chairman of the board.