Family Wins $1,000 Oregon College Savings Plan Account

The Frempong Family of Tualatin was randomly selected as a winner in this summer’s We Dig Summer Reading and Saving for College campaign,

sponsored by the Oregon College Savings Plan in partnership with the Oregon State Library and Oregon Library Association. Sarah Frempong will receive a $1,000 Oregon College Savings Plan account on behalf of her child’s higher education.

We Dig Summer Reading and Saving for College was a component of this year’s summer reading program held at public libraries throughout Oregon to encourage children of all ages to maintain their reading skills during summer break. Tualatin Public Library, where Sarah’s child participated in the summer reading program, also received a $500 cash prize from the Oregon College Savings Plan.

“It is always rewarding to see children getting excited about reading ,” said Sam Wikstrom, Tualatin Library children’s  librarian. “The chance to win money for college was an added incentive. We are also thrilled with the $500 prize, which will go a long way toward enhancing our future summer reading programs.”

The We Dig Summer Reading and Saving for College program received 6,542 entries statewide, helping to spread awareness of the importance of both summer reading and saving early for college. A total of 15 winners, three from each Oregon congressional district, were selected in a random drawing. 

“This is the fourth year that we’ve partnered with the Oregon College Savings Plan on summer reading,” said MaryKay Dahlgreen, Oregon State Librarian. "The We Dig Summer Reading and Saving for College campaign was a great incentive for all Oregon students to participate in their library's summer reading program."

As part of its sponsorship, the Oregon College Savings Plan also underwrote a series of free special performances in libraries in communities with a population of 10,000 or less. The goal was to engage and motivate young readers, while helping these smaller libraries drive traffic and encourage summer reading.

The summer reading program is offered through Oregon’s public libraries each year to encourage children to continue to read through the summer.