A Millionaire Among Us

Both of my girls have a saving's account with Sturgis Bank and Trust.  Every Friday, representatives of the bank are at the elementary schools before school, so students who have accounts can deposit some money into their accounts.  Aunt Jen always comes to Congress School to see her nieces.  The amount can be a penny to a large sum, just to teach kids the importance of saving money.  Towards the end of the school year, students who participated are invited to enter an essay contest where they write what they would do with one million dollars.  Names are removed, and a panel of judges from the bank vote on the winners.  The winners are then dubbed, "Millionaires for a Day!"  They get picked up from school in a limousine and escorted off for a day of fun.  One million dollars is deposited into their account for the day and they get to keep the interest earned.  Olivia has entered four times now.  This year she wrote about donating half of the money for cancer research because her third grade teacher is currently battling breast cancer.  It was written from the heart, included some spelling errors, but was completely written by Olivia.  I thought this was her year.  Mia didn't show much interest in writing one having no previous knowledge of the program, but did one with my encouragement.  She wrote about buying a pedal tractor and food for kids who don't have food.  They choose one grade level winner from each building.  This year's winner......Mia Feyes for kindergarten from Congress School!

Since Aunt Jen works at the bank, she volunteered to chaperon.  

Mia, Lukas Yunker for 2nd grade, and Miley for 1st grade.  Mia was thrilled her buddy Lukas was going.  Also, Olivia's good friend Quinn won for the 3rd graders at Eastwood.

Time to load in.

The school came out to wave them off and wish them well.

They were whisked away to a day of laser tag and bowling, pizza, cruising around town, frozen custard from Culver's, a tour of the bank, including the vault, and were each given one dollar to make a deposit into their account while at the bank.  Mia loved it!