Regional winners share in $12,000 in SMART529 savings
The West Virginia State Treasurer’s Office and SMART529 celebrated 12 years of the SMART529 “When I Grow Up” essay contest for elementary school students with an award ceremony this morning at the West Virginia State Culture Center. State Treasurer John Perdue recognized fifteen West Virginia students for their essays detailing what they want to be when they grow up.
The regional winners were selected from more than 3,300 entries. Each winner received $500 invested into a SMART529 WV Direct account. An additional $4,500 was awarded to Jaylynn Gano of East Hardy Early Middle School in Hardy County, after being selected as the grand prize winner during a random drawing at the event. Each winning student’s school was also recognized and awarded a $500 cash prize to support school programs.
“I want you all to be successful,” Treasurer Perdue told the winners. “The best way to guarantee success is by continuing your education after high school.”
The contest gives kindergarten through fifth grade students a chance to share in nearly $12,000 in SMART529 savings for higher education. Essays from three age groups (grades K-1, 2-3, and 4-5) were judged in each of the five regions, for a total of 15 winners.
“We are thrilled to partner with Treasurer Perdue to promote college savings in West Virginia,” said Hartford Funds Senior Vice President Jeff Coghan. “We are now seeing some of the first recipients of this award use their winnings to help further their education.”
2019 Teacher Contest Winner
In addition to the student winners, Lumberport Elementary School fourth-grade teacher Kimberly Howell was awarded $2,500 cash for her essay about how she planned to educate children about going to college and saving with the SMART529 program.
“We rely on teachers to emphasize the importance of saving for higher education. I am thrilled to we are able to reward one of them for making a special effort to encourage students to think beyond high school,” said Perdue.
The “When I Grow Up” student and teacher essay contests are sponsored by the SMART529, Hartford Funds and the West Virginia State Treasurer’s Office to promote awareness of SMART529 and the need for higher education savings.
Information about this year’s essay contests were made available through www.SMART529.com, on Facebook, in SMART529’s school newsletter, and through direct mail publications.
SMART529 is a qualified tuition program issued by the West Virginia Prepaid College Tuition and Savings Program Board of Trustees and administered by Hartford Funds. Complete information about the SMART529 program contest, including the 2020 “When I Grow Up” essay contest, is available at www.SMART529.com.
2019 “When I Grow Up” Contest Student Winners
Winner’s Name
|
Grade
|
School
|
County
|
Occupation
|
Keira Winkler
|
1st grade
|
Jumping Branch Elementary
|
Summers
|
Doctor
|
Rowan Meadows
|
3rd grade
|
Maxwell Hill Elementary
|
Raleigh
|
Archeologist
|
Elijah Murphy
|
5th grade
|
Chapmanville Middle
|
Logan
|
Airline Pilot
|
Brooke Sayre
|
1st grade
|
Malden Elementary
|
Kanawha
|
Animal Keeper
|
Timmothy Henry
|
3rd grade
|
Beale Elementary
|
Mason
|
Paleontologist
|
Jack-Tyler Creed Rife
|
4th grade
|
Kanawha City Elementary
|
Kanawha
|
Blacksmith
|
Braylee Ammons
|
Kindergarten
|
Ridgedale Elementary
|
Monongalia
|
Artist
|
Vincent Cook
|
2nd grade
|
Fairmont Catholic
|
Marion
|
Business Owner
|
Corbie Campbell
|
4th grade
|
Lumberport Elementary
|
Harrison
|
Zoo Keeper
|
Stella Ann Marie van Hilst
|
Kindergarten
|
Shepherdstown Elementary
|
Jefferson
|
Paleontologist
|
Jaylynn Gano
|
2nd grade
|
East Hardy Early Middle
|
Hardy
|
Biologist
|
Savannah Wilkins
|
5th grade
|
East Hardy Early Middle
|
Hardy
|
Media Journalist
|
Cash McMahan
|
1st grade
|
A.T. Allison Elementary
|
Hancock
|
Blue Angel Pilot
|
Asa Brewer
|
2nd grade
|
A.T. Allison Elementary
|
Hancock
|
Disney Interpreter
|
Karlee Moix
|
5th grade
|
Middle Creek Elementary
|
Ohio
|
Nurse
|