State Treasurer Larry Pack is encouraging students and teachers to submit their entries for the 2025 SMART529 “When I Grow Up” statewide essay contest before the deadline on Friday, February 28.
“As a parent of six children, I know how important it is to encourage our West Virginia students to dream big,” Treasurer Pack said. “Our goal is to inspire young people by starting to think about what they want to achieve when they grow up including attending a college, a trade school or starting a business.”
Students are required to submit, in 200 words or less, an essay that explains what they want to be when they grow up. Entries will be judged on originality, creativity and the importance of post-secondary education.
The contest, now in its 18th year, gives kindergarten through fifth-grade students the chance to win up to $5,000 in SMART529 savings for higher education and a $500 cash prize for their school. Teachers of grades kindergarten through fifth have the opportunity to win a $2,500 personal cash prize.
More than 3,300 students from across the state participated in the contest last year. The students worked with their families and educators to discover job pathways that spark their interests and can lead them to a fulfilling future career.
Essay entries will be judged among five regions in three age groups (K-1, 2-3, 4-5), making for a total of 15 regional winners.
The regional breakdown is as follows:
- Region I – Beckley/Bluefield area
- Region II – Charleston/Huntington area
- Region III – Clarksburg/Weston area
- Region IV – Martinsburg area
- Region V – Wheeling area
The 15 regional winners will each be awarded $500 invested into a SMART529 college savings account. Out of the regional winners, one grand prize winner will be randomly selected to receive a total of $5,000 toward a SMART529 account during an awards ceremony at the State Culture Center in Charleston this fall.
Entry forms for both students and teachers are available at www.SMART529.com. In addition, entry forms are available at elementary schools throughout the state.
SMART529 is a qualified tuition program issued by the Board of Trustees of the West Virginia College and Jumpstart Savings Programs and administered by Hartford Funds. Complete information about SMART529 plans and investment options is available at www.SMART529.com.