"When I Grow Up" SMART529 Essay Contest for K-5th Grade Students
West Virginia children in Kindergarten through Fifth Grades can enter to win $5,000 toward higher education savings by participating in the “When I Grow Up” contest, sponsored by the SMART529 college savings program. SMART529 is a program of the West Virginia State Treasurer’s Office that encourages children to dream about their futures and save for their educational goals. SMART529 savings are used to finance higher education at universities, vocational and technology schools, culinary schools, community colleges, and thousands of others nationwide.
To participate in the contest, children will write an essay in 100 words or less answering the question, “What do you want to be when you grow up?” The deadline to submit entries is February 26, 2021. The entries are broken down into three grade categories and five regions. 15 children will be awarded a $500 SMART529 college savings account. A grand prize winner will be selected from the 15 regional winners and will receive an additional $4,500 in his or her SMART529 account. Winners will be honored at a press conference later in the year and will be invited to participate in a photo shoot to represent the 2022 SMART529 campaign.
Official entry forms and rules for the contest may be found online at www.SMART529.com or www.upshurschools.com.
