Congratulations to Hancock Elementary School first-graders Emma Saul and Sophia Jefferson, who were recently honored as Scholars of the Month by the Hancock Community Education Foundation.

Emma was nominated by her teacher, Kerrie Bass, for the January award. Emma is the daughter of Steven and Stacey Saul.

Teacher Kristen Rice nominated Sophia for the February award. Sophia is the daughter of Joseph Jefferson and Amanda Berry.

The Scholar of the Month Program is sponsored by Camp Hilltop and encourages students and their families to begin saving for college as early as possible. The Foundation, the Hancock Central School District, local financial institutions and the community work together to help make this possible.

A $100 award is deposited into a student account for each Scholar of the Month and will be kept in trust for them until they graduate from Hancock and enter college.

The Foundation reports that 87 percent of the Scholar of the Month recipients who have graduated have gone on to college, trade school or the military. For more information, visit www.hancockeducationfoundation.org online.