Douglas Pre-K student recipient of 529 Path 2 College Grant

Preparing for the future...

May 15, 2023

Matthew Crumley,

DOUGLAS, Ga. – One Coffee County family is getting a head start on saving for college thanks to the 529 Path 2 College Grant.

According to 529 Plan only four students across the State of Georgia are awarded the Path 2 College grant every year.

And, one of the recipients this year?…

Pre-K student Angel Rios at Eastside Elementary School in Douglas.

And, his mother, Mayela couldn’t be happier.

“We see the opportunity to get some money to my son’s education…” said Mayela Rios, mother.

“This is an investment project that families can start and save for college that will help them with their college expenses when their children grow up and go on to college or trade school,” said Mitch Sebaugh, Executive Director Path 2 College 529 plan.

But, it’s not just the Rios family that reaps the benefits of being chosen.

As Eastside Elementary received a check for the same amount of money…

Money that will ultimately go back into the school.

“…I think our principal has some pretty creative ideas about what to do with the money so it will benefit all students here at eastside,” said April Thomason, Director of Pre-K, Coffee County School System.

But, for Angel and his family, they’re excited that he’s already going to have money saved up for college before he’s even out of Pre-K.

“I think that’s a great way to begin. I mean he’s only in Pre-K and he has a long way to go, but he has a very good start now thanks to Path 2 College,” said Thomason.

And, for those who run Path 2 College, they say most families only really start saving for after high school when their kid is already in middle school…

Something like this gives families the idea of a head start.

“We have the opportunity of reaching families when the children are smaller. It gives them an opportunity to save for more years, and prepare for those college expenses, said Sebaugh.

“I hope that everybody can know about the scholarship with Path 2 College, and everybody can look for this information and sign up for the next year for their kids,” said Rios.

While college may be a ways off for little angel, its never too soon for a stroke of good luck to make a family prepare for the future.

According to Path 2 College, a child with a college saving account is seven times more likely to go to college or trade school.

Brian Roche reporting.