Kids & Family

Kinnelon Resident Wins $10K for Kids' College Educations

Pamela Smith is one of 10 recipients to receive part of $100K prize from Sallie Mae.

A Kinnelon mother’s dedication to her family has paid off—literally.

Pamela Smith is one of 10 winners of the national Make the Pledge, Keep the Promise contest. She will receive $10,000 to put toward her daughters’ college education.

Smith entered the contest last year. She wrote a letter to Upromise, a college savings service offered by Sallie Mae that provides families with a way they can save for college tuition. Sallie Mae is a financial services company specializing in education and 529 college savings plans.

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Smith and her husband adopted their daughters Elizabeth and Sarah from China. She wrote to Upromise and said she would put the money towards her children’s education should she receive it.

“Education is the gateway to a better life,” Smith said in a statement. “Now, Liz has an additional $5,000 to put toward her freshman year of college this fall, and Sarah has $5,000 that she’ll be able to add to for the beginning of her college education in two years.”

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Thousands of people entered the contest.

“We’re thrilled to empower Pamela to make progress toward her goal,” said Erin Condon, vice president of Sallie Mae. 


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