The Mary Lou & Arthur F. Mahone Foundation, together with the Wisconsin College Savings Program Edvest 529, honored 27 eighth‑grade students from the Kenosha Unified School District and Racine Unified School District with $500 scholarships. The awards ceremony took place at the Kenosha Emerging Leaders Academy, drawing more than 150 students, parents, counselors, administrators and community leaders.
How the scholarships work
Each recipient received a $500 contribution to an Edvest 529 investment account. The Edvest program supplied $5,000 toward the total, while the Mahone Foundation, Educators Credit Union and Jennie Tunkieicz provided the remaining funds.
Essay contest selects winners
Students competed by writing a 750‑word essay answering five questions about their educational and career aspirations. Thirty‑nine eighth‑graders submitted essays, and a committee selected 27 winners based on the quality of their responses.
“We are truly encouraged by the level of competitiveness, enthusiasm, and commitment demonstrated by our students,” said Lavetta Arrington, a member of the essay contest committee. “Their insightful aspirations, innovative thinking and ability to articulate their goals reflect a generation of young people who are not only dreaming big but actively preparing to turn those dreams into reality.”
Community voices celebrate the event
Long‑time Mahone Foundation volunteer Tamarra Coleman served as emcee. “Tonight, we celebrate not only what you wrote, but your willingness to share something of yourselves. Your words gave us a chance to listen, and that matters because young people deserve more than advice about their futures,” Coleman told the audience.
Tim Mahone, chairman of the foundation, explained why the organization is reaching into middle school. “As college tuition continues to rise, the Mahone Foundation is uniquely positioned to expand our investment strategies so middle school students and parents will learn how to save and prepare for their future. Our initiative creates awareness about early college saving programs, but, more importantly, provides the money for parents to make their investment sooner,” Mahone said.
Officials praise early planning
Cheryl Rapp, College Investment Program Finance Officer with the Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions, praised the effort: “It’s exciting to see eighth‑grade students already thinking about their goals, dreams, and the opportunities ahead of them. Encouraging students to plan for their future at an early age can make a lasting difference and Edvest 529 is proud to support efforts that help young people take those first steps toward achieving their educational and career goals.”
Kenosha Unified School District Superintendent Jeff Weiss linked the scholarships to broader preparation for high school. “Planning for life after high school begins before even entering high school. The ‘Thinking About My Future’ scholarship program provides families with a jump‑start on savings for college education, as well as an opportunity to have important conversations about what their children’s future may hold,” Weiss said.
Racine Unified School District Superintendent Soren Gajewski added, “This scholarship is not only an investment in a college education for our students; it is an opportunity to help them see what is possible. I’m grateful for this initiative because it shows our students that college is within reach and that they can take steps today to make that future a reality.”
Impact on families
Parents shared how the scholarships inspire their children. Marguerite Phillips, a Lance Middle School parent, said her son Kaiden’s essay helped him “tap into his greatness and share his future goals, inspiring him to reach for the stars.” Amoiya Hunt, a Mahone Middle School parent, noted that her son Jordan “had to step out of his comfort zone to write a paper about his life,” and expressed gratitude for the opportunity to earn $500 toward college dreams.
Steve Germain, principal of Mahone Middle School, summed up the significance: “The $500 scholarship represents so much more than money for college. It is a brick in the foundation of a young person’s future.”
Looking ahead
The Mahone Foundation has supported high‑school seniors for more than 25 years, and this expansion into middle school reflects a long‑term commitment to early college‑saving education. Families interested in learning more about college‑savings options can visit the Edvest 529 website, while additional information about the foundation is available at mahonefoundation.org.
Original reporting: Kenosha.com — read the source article.
