Treasury to Honor Winners of Savings Bond Poster Contest

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

May 23, 2001

Van Zeck, Commissioner of the Public Debt, will present the three national winners in the 10th Annual Savings Bonds Poster Contest with awards during a ceremony at the Capital Children's Museum in Washington, D.C. on May 24, 2001 at 10 a.m. The winning posters were selected from the winners of poster contests held in each State, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico earlier this year.

The three winning posters are the work of a fourth-grader from New Rochelle, New York, a fifth-grader from Rockford, Michigan and the first place winner, a sixth-grader from Brownsville, Texas. Their posters, and those of the other 49 finalists, will be displayed in lighted dioramas in more than 70 airports around the country this fall. Also, the posters will be exhibited in Washington D.C., at the Capital Children's Museum and the Bureau of Engraving and Printing on 14th St, S.W., from June through October.

The first place winner, Vanessa Mendez, a sixth-grader at Senator Eddie A. Lucio Jr. Middle School, Brownsville, Texas will receive a $5,000 U.S. Savings Bond and her poster will be used to promote the sale of bonds nationwide in 2002. When asked what she is going to do with her award, Vanessa said, “I plan to save it for my education.”

The second and third place winners, Keith Dufendach, a fifth-grader at Crestwood Elementary School, Rockford, Michigan and Andrew Morejon a fourth-grader who attends Daniel Webster Magnet School, New Rochelle, New York will receive $2,000 and $1,000 in savings bonds, respectively.

“The poster contest provides children with a vehicle for artistic expression while learning about the value of saving,” said Van Zeck, Commissioner of the Public Debt. “We hope learning about U.S. Savings Bonds will spark younger Americans' interest in the broader world of saving and investing.”

Russ Turner, President and CEO, United Space Alliance, Houston, Texas sponsored this year's contest. Mr. Turner also chaired the 2000 U.S. Savings Bonds Volunteer Committee. The trip to Washington, D.C., for this year's winners is also being made possible by the following sponsors which donated their services: the Renaissance Washington DC Hotel, Planet Hollywood, and the Hard Rock Cafe.

The Bureau of the Public Debt administers the U.S. Savings Bonds program as part of its overall responsibilities for Treasury's debt finance operations.