Treasurer Stacy Garrity Congratulates Erie Civics Bee Winners with $500 to Boost Education Savings
Top three students will receive a $500 deposit into a PA 529 account
Erie, PA - Pennsylvania Treasurer Stacy Garrity today congratulated the winners of the Erie Regional Chamber and Growth Partnership’s fourth annual National Civics Bee. Vihaan Koradia, Jared Kang and Fiona He were the top three finishers in the competition which was held on April 2 at Mercyhurst University. Each winner will receive a $500 deposit into a PA 529 College and Career Savings Program account to recognize their efforts.
“Treasury is excited to partner with the Erie Regional Chamber and Growth Partnership to award these young bright minds for their skills and excitement about our nation’s government. I commend all of the participants for their enthusiasm to learn about how our government works, and I look forward to seeing the great leaders they become.”
Pennsylvania State Treasurer Stacy Garrity
The ten participants in the competition were 6th, 7th and 8th graders, including public, private, charter and homeschool students. The competition focused on civics knowledge including government operations, the three branches of the American government and more. It encourages students to develop leadership skills and engage in civic activities.
"It was great partnering with the PA Treasurer's office on this year's National Civics Bee competition. Working together we were able to enhance the experience and provide an even greater tangible benefit for our students. It was a pleasure working with Treasury’s Regional Program Relationship Manager Jan Socha to make it all come together."
Curtis Jones, Erie Regional Chamber and Growth Partnership Director of Government Affairs
Along with the $500 PA 529 deposit, the three regional winners are invited to the statewide competition scheduled for later this year in State College. The winner of the statewide competition competes nationally in Washington, D.C.
This marks the first time a regional civics competition was supported by Treasury’s PA 529 program. In addition to the Erie Civics Bee, PA 529 also supported the Lebanon Civics Bee held on April 7.
The PA 529 program has been helping families save and pay for education for more than 30 years. There are two plans to choose from, the PA 529 Guaranteed Savings Plan (GSP) and the Morningstar Gold-Rated PA 529 Investment Plan (IP). The PA 529 GSP lets families save at today’s tuition rates to cover tomorrow’s tuition costs, and PA 529 GSP fees are waived through June 30, 2026. The PA 529 IP has multiple investment options to choose from, and returns are tied to financial market performance. Treasurer Garrity has cut PA 529 fees numerous times, resulting in over $22 million in savings for Pennsylvania families.
Both plans offer state and federal tax advantages, and PA 529 assets don’t impact a student’s eligibility for Pennsylvania state financial aid. PA 529 accounts can be used for a wide variety of qualifying technical, collegiate, apprenticeship, credential and K-12 expenses like tuition, fees, books, equipment, room and board, and more.
To learn more about saving with PA 529 accounts, visit pa529.com.
