MIDDLEBURY / BRANDON — Vermont State Treasurer Beth Pearce this summer named 20 K–6 students who were selected as contest winners for their completion of the Treasurer’s “Reading is an Investment” financial education program. Among the winners were Winston Stattel of Mary Hogan Elementary School in Middlebury and Levi Machia of Neshobe Elementary School in Brandon.
Despite the onset of COVID-19 and school disruptions, Vermont teachers worked closely with the Treasurer’s Office to ensure more than 4,500 students completed “Reading is an Investment” this academic year.
“For a decade, the ‘Reading is an Investment’ program has provided educators a platform to introduce basic money skills to our elementary learners,” said Pearce. “This voluntary program is delivered through a partnership with our local schools, and this year our teachers stepped up to complete it as COVID-19 school closures and distance learning took effect. I want to thank all of our educators for making this possible — the work you’ve done in challenging times is extraordinary. I also want to congratulate the winning students, and all the students who completed this year’s program. I hope the skills you developed will help you build a money plan as you move forward in your education and career.”

“Reading is an Investment” teaches K–6 students basic financial concepts through classroom and library instruction that uses a personal reading program. Students who completed the reading challenge had their names entered in a random drawing to win one of 20 $250 college savings accounts provided by the Vermont Student Assistance Corporation (VSAC). People’s United Bank underwrote the 2019–2020 program, allowing theTreasurer’s Office to provide it to schools free of charge.