POST FALLS - Shane Sampson won't likely spend his latest earnings for several years, but that suits the Post Falls Middle School seventh-grader just fine.

Sampson won $500 toward a college scholarship program on Thursday at the Boys and Girls Club of Kootenai County during a statewide awareness campaign for IDeal, the Idaho College Savings Program.

"I think it's pretty cool," Sampson said with a wide grin after the drawing. "I really wanted to win it."

Sampson already knows what saving for college means as he has started it.

And he knows $500 isn't pocket change.

"In college, it may buy books for a year," he said. "This will help - big time."

Sampson called his mother, Kayci Sampson, after winning. He said she was ecstatic about the news.

State Treasurer Ron Crane intended to make the stop with IDeal staff - he's a member of the board of the program that exists within the Office of Treasury - but he was unable to attend due to illness.

Post Falls was IDeal's seventh stop on an eight-stop statewide tour this week in celebration of College Savings Month. A $500 grand-prize toward the college savings program is being awarded to a local youth at each stop.

Anyone can sign up at www.idsaves.org/save before Sept. 30 for 12 more of the prizes to be awarded statewide.

Christine Stoll, IDeal executive director, said the purpose of the tour is to create awareness among youth about the importance of saving money for college.

"College is attainable," she said. "You just have to plan for it and save early."

Stoll said Idaho ranks No. 46 among states whose students choose to go to college. She said students who have a college savings program are seven times more likely to go to college than students who don't.

"Our job is to help you dream big," Stoll told the students.

IDeal, which has existed since 2001, offers tax advantages and it takes $25 to start the program. Those who enroll have different investment options with risks they are most comfortable with.

Post Falls High freshman Hope Newman, who won Museum of North Idaho tickets in the drawing, said she hopes students are more inspired to save as a result of the IDeal stop.

"We're very fortunate to have people like this come to our community," Newman said.