Treasurer Stacy Garrity Congratulates Lebanon Civics Bee Winners with $500 to Boost Education Savings
Top three students will receive a $500 deposit into a PA 529 account
Lebanon, PA - Pennsylvania Treasurer Stacy Garrity today congratulated the winners of the Lebanon Valley Chamber of Commerce’s National Civics Bee. Blake Summers, Delaney Gawel and Owen Dixon were the top three finishers in the competition which was held on April 7 at Lebanon High School. Each winner will receive a $500 deposit into a PA 529 College and Career Savings Program account to recognize their efforts.
“It’s great to see the next generation of leaders getting excited about the ins and outs of our government. Treasury was excited to partner with the Lebanon Valley Chamber of Commerce to award Civics Bee winners with awards that will help them achieve their future career training – no matter what path they take.”
Pennsylvania State Treasurer Stacy Garrity
The 17 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 exciting to host the first Civics Bee in Lebanon County and see firsthand the knowledge and confidence of these students. The Pennsylvania Treasury’s contribution added real value for our top three winners—not just financially, but by emphasizing the importance of saving for their future education.”
Karen Groh, President & CEO, Lebanon Valley Chamber of Commerce
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 year that regional civics competitions were supported by Treasury’s PA 529 program. In addition to the Lebanon Civics Bee, PA 529 supported the Erie Civics Bee held on April 2.
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.
