“TEACH CHILDREN TO SAVE” PROGRAM AWARDS SAVINGS BONDS TO LONGVIEW ELEMENTARY STUDENTS
November, 2007

Austin Bank recently selected 28 student winners from the Longview area elementary schools 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 elementary 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 selected from each participating elementary school.

The art work from the area winners is currently on display at the three Longview Austin Banks.  The winners were:

LONGVIEW ISD
Bramlette Elementary:
Alejandro Montano, Kindergarten; Garett Walls, First Grade; Jaymin Williams, Second Grade; and Kristian Ross, Third Grade School.

Hudson Pep Elementary:
Chakyrian Young, Kindergarten; Anna Ward, First Grade; Evelyn Felipe, Second Grade; and Devon Thomas, Third Grade

South Ward Elementary School:
Oracio Soria, Kindergarten; Tyshawn Taylor, First Grade; Tyler Wilder, Second Grade; and Christian Marez, Third Grade

Doris McQueen Primary School:
Lynli Lowry, Kindergarten; Emily Morris, First Grade; and Anijah Harper, Second Grade

Valley View Elementary School:
Lu Pita Gomez, Kindergarten; Jacob Jackson, First Grade; Maria Resendiz, Second Grade; and Juan Vargas, Third Grade

Mozelle Johnston Elementary School:
Sarah Turner, Third Grade

GK Foster Montessori:
Chakyrian Young, Kindergarten

Pine Tree ISD
Pine Tree Primary School:
Kaci Kramer, Kindergarten

Pine Tree Elementary School:
Timothy Short, First Grade; Ben Zazulak, Second Grade; and Cheyenne Webber, Third Grade

Spring Hill ISD
Spring Hill Primary School:
Sarah Colley, Kindergarten; Sawyer Smith, First Grade; Alyssa Marie Knight, Second Grade; and Kayli Estrella, 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 covering 27,716 students attending public and private schools in 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.

“We would like to thank our schools and their teachers for allowing students to participate in the ‘Teach Kids to Save’ program.  Their efforts in the classroom are key to developing financial literacy among the youth of East Texas,” said Austin.

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