SMYRNA (AP) - State Treasurer David Lillard Jr. is offering an incentive for families to start saving for college.

He visited Stewarts Creek Middle School in Smyrna on Friday and announced scholarships in the amount of $5,290 will be given to two families by the TNStars 529 College Savings Program.

The program allows people to save money for children's college expenses with tax advantages.

To compete for the scholarships, children in kindergarten through second grade must participate in a coloring contest. And children in third through eighth grades must complete an online interactive guide about the importance of saving money.

Two names will be selected from among the participants in a random drawing this fall.

For more information about TNStars and the scholarship giveaways, visit www.tnstars.com.