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