×
X logo

Today's breaking news and more in your inbox.

I'm interested in (please check all that apply)

You may opt-out anytime by clicking "unsubscribe" from the newsletter or from your account.

Middle Creek Student Wins $5,000 In State ‘When I Grow Up’ Essay Contest

Photo Provided Drew Tarrant, a fifth-grader at Middle Creek Elementary School, holds his SMART529 certificate for $5,000 with West Virginia Treasurer John Perdue at the West Virginia State Culture Center in Charleston. Tarrant, who aspires to be an actor, was the grand-prize winner Sept. 14 of the “When I Grow Up” essay contest. He will be able to use his winnings for higher education.

CHARLESTON — A Middle Creek Elementary School fifth-grader was the grand-prize winner of the SMART529 “When I Grow Up” essay contest.

Drew Tarrant received an additional $4,500 for taking the top prize in addition to the $500 he received for being a regional winner. He was among 15 students out of 2,500 who submitted entries for the contest, which is in its 11th year. Tarrant received his prize Sept. 14 at the West Virginia State Culture Center.

“I want you all to be successful,” said state Treasurer John Perdue. “The best way to guarantee success is by continuing your education after high school.”

In his essay, Tarrant said he wants to be an actor when he grows up.

The contest gives kindergarten through fifth-grade students a chance to share in nearly $20,000 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. “After 11 years, we are now seeing some of the first recipients of this award use their winnings to help further their education.”

Bethany Thomas, a fifth-grader from New Martinsville Elementary School, also was a regional winner and took home $500 for higher education. She wants to be an artist when she grows up.

In addition to the student winners, Kanawha City Elementary School second grade teacher Amanda Freeman 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,” Perdue said. “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.”

The “When I Grow Up” student and teacher essay contests are sponsored by the SMART529 Education Savings Solution, The Hartford and the West Virginia State Treasurer’s Office to promote awareness of SMART529 and the need for high education savings.

Information about this year’s essay contests were made available through 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.

NEWSLETTER

Today's breaking news and more in your inbox

I'm interested in (please check all that apply)
Are you a paying subscriber to the newspaper? *

COMMENTS

[vivafbcomment]

Starting at $4.73/week.

Subscribe Today