This post was submitted and sponsored by State Treasurer David McRae.
And she dribbles, shoots, and scores – a scholarship!” For twelve lucky students, that will be the announcement they’ll hear over the intercom during the upcoming state basketball tournament.
For
many Mississippians, sports can be the motivation and the means through
which they achieve their college dreams. But sports scholarships can be
hard to come by, and most families can’t afford to rely on such good
fortune. College Savings Mississippi, however, empowers you to plan
ahead, and we’re using the state basketball championships to assist
families in doing just that.
Once
again this year, your State Treasury and our College Savings
Mississippi team will be returning to the tournament to host a Savings
Shootout. Students of all ages are invited to sign up at the door of the
Coliseum in Jackson. If we draw your child’s name to participate,
they’ll just need to shoot more free-throws than their competitor to
take home a $500 Mississippi Affordable College Savings (MACS)
scholarship. It’s a great boost to jumpstart anyone’s college savings
goals.
But
whether you’re a Savings Shootout winner or not, getting started with
MACS could be a slam-dunk for you. MACS operates much like a typical
savings account, although it often has tax advantages a regular account
doesn’t offer.
Once
you make a deposit, you’ll be able to gain interest on your investment.
When it’s time to withdraw, use the funds to pay tuition, buy books and
supplies, or cover certain room and board expenses. The money can also
be used to fund continued education (such as a Master’s Degree or MBA)
or pay private school tuition expenses for a child in elementary or high
school. In other words, even if your child does end up earning that
sports scholarship, the MACS money will be able cover what the
scholarship does not.
Please
stop by our booth at the Coliseum during the state basketball
tournament, March 4-6, to sign up for the Savings Shootout or just get
more information about getting started with College Savings Mississippi.
If you aren’t able to attend the games, I invite you to learn more at Treasury.MS.gov/CollegeSavings or call (601) 359-3600.
Good
luck to all of this year’s players, coaches, and communities.
Congratulations on making it this far. I hope to see you at the game!
Mississippi Treasurer David McRae is
the 55th Treasurer for the State of Mississippi. In this role, he helps
manage the state’s cash flow, oversees College Savings Mississippi, and
has returned more than $20 million in unclaimed money to
Mississippians.
