Poster Contest Winner
Honored At SHSU

By Michelle C. Lyons/The Huntsville Item

A local fourth-grader who aspires to someday teach children with disabilities may be a little bit closer to realizing that goal now that she has been selected as one of four winners of the Texas Tomorrow Fund's "What I Want to Be After College" poster contest.

Huntsville Elementary School student Katie Richardson, 10, is the second-place winner in the elementary school category of the contest, earning her a one-year scholarship to a Texas community college of her choice.

Richardson was one of almost 6,000 students across the state to enter the contest.

Richardson, the daughter of Sherry and Len Richardson of Huntsville, was recognized for her efforts Wednesday at a ceremony held on the Sam Houston State University campus. Among those in attendance was Texas Comptroller Carole Keeton Rylander, whose office sponsors the Texas Tomorrow Fund.

"Nothing is more important than education," Rylander said. "This generation will have to compete not only with those from New York and California, but from Europe and Asia as well.

"If the thousands of entries we received in the Texas Tomorrow Fund poster contest are any indication, Texas children have the talent and creativity to meet the challenges of the future," she continued. "It is our job to see that they have the education they will need as well."

The Texas Tomorrow Fund allows families to finance their children's future college education costs at today's prices. For a newborn child, one year of community college starts at $15 per month, and starts at $26 per month for one year at a four-year public university.

"No matter how much college costs rise in the future, the Texas Tomorrow Fund is absolutely guaranteed to cover tuition and required fees," Rylander said, adding that the current enrollment period ends June 5. "With the Texas Tomorrow Fund, "Main Street' Texans don't have to worry about Wall Street volatility."

For more information about the Texas Tomorrow Fund, visit the Web site at www.texastomorrowfund.com, or call 1-800-445-GRAD.

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SHSU Media Contact: Frank Krystyniak
June 1, 2000
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