Fourth Quarterly Winners of College Savings Drawing Announced
Parents Entered in Drawing After Receiving College and Career Planning Information for Their Students
July 1, 2024
Thirty-nine Iowa parents and guardians each received $250 in college savings deposits after their entries were randomly selected in a quarterly drawing sponsored by Iowa Student Loan Liquidity Corporation®. The winners were among 688 eligible participants who entered after receiving free college and career planning information for their middle and high school students.
The information service, SP3 or Student Planning Pointers for Parents, is provided by the nonprofit student loan provider to help parents and guardians guide their students through eighth through 12th grades with an eye to the future.
"Parents are often unsure of how to help their students think about and plan for the future. We want to help them understand the planning steps that apply to each student's grade level and what they as a family can do now to prepare for success in college and careers," said Steve McCullough, president and CEO of Iowa Student Loan Liquidity Corporation.
The free service is provided via twice-monthly emails to parents and guardians who sign up at www.sp3.org. Registered recipients have the opportunity to enter the quarterly drawings for deposits into a college savings account.
Winner Danielle Dykstra from Sheldon, Iowa said, "I really appreciate the articles and find them helpful for planning and learning. It's an awesome program."
Chad Klein from Newton, Iowa, a prize winner in 2020, reflected on his four years of SP3 participation. "Over the past four years, I have read dozens of SP3 articles that have guided our family as we get ready to send our oldest off to college in the fall. The topics of these articles have ranged from the first steps of planning on how to pay for college when he was a freshman, to visiting and applying to schools, to the final steps in preparing to go off to college as a graduating senior. Each month, a new article would hit my inbox with tips and advice on how to navigate the process of preparing our son for college. Some of the topics in these articles reassured us that we were on the right track. Others discussed topics that we hadn't considered that sparked productive conversations." He added, "This has led us to a point where we feel we are well-prepared to send him off to college in two months. I'm sure it won't be easy to say goodbye when we drop him off at his dorm this fall, but this was the goal when we began discussing college four years ago."
The SP3 service is provided in partnership with College Savings Iowa, ICAN, the Iowa School Counselor Association and Strada Education Network.
Articles are carefully researched and informed by 40 years of experience in the higher education industry. Additionally, parents and guardians are provided with multiple resources to further explore topics of particular interest.
The information is targeted to specific grade levels to correspond with students' current stages. The consistent format explains why the topic is important, what students can do now, additional steps they should take later and what parents can do. In addition, talking points are provided as a guideline for approaching the topic with students.
More information and simple signup is available at www.sp3.org.
2023 Fourth-Quarter Winners
Each winner below received a $250 deposit to an established 529 college savings plan account.
- Kyle Andernacht, Johnston
- Erica Bodensteiner, Waucoma
- Heidi Boelsma, Kingsley
- Christine Bonfig, Coralville
- Jill Brunkan, Eldridge
- Janet Buman, Harlan
- Lynda Cook, Cedar Rapids
- Jill Duffield, Altoona
- Danielle Dykstra, Sheldon
- Janet Felton, Cascade
- John Ferris, Honey Creek
- Scott Goodrich, Central City
- Michelle Green, Marion
- Karla Hagerty, Peosta
- Curt Harris, Akron
- Ben Hicks, Urbandale
- Steven Hill, Dubuque
- Sandra Hoover, Des Moines
- Julie Iverson, Solon
- Amitie Keuning, Pleasant Hill
- Sarah Kline, Des Moines
- Sarah Koth, Polk City
- Laurie Lake, Hinton
- Aubree Lindblom, Marion
- Dan Mart, Polk City
- Aimee Mussman, Cedar Rapids
- Amy Nelson, Donahue
- Stacey Nepple, Carroll
- Matt Newhouse, Ankeny
- Cassy Rhinehart, Victor
- Brian Soenen, Marion
- Amy Sparks, Polk City
- Tracy Stoltz, Pella
- Randy Svoboda, Cresco
- Alex Todd, Marion
- Carrie Van Egdom, Rock Valley
- Jill Venner, Arcadia
- Megan Volp, West Des Moines
- Jennifer Whitted, Polk City
# # #
Media Contact
Christopher Weishaar, Digital PR Specialist, (515) 273-7102, cweishaar@studentloan.org
