The Nebraska Educational Savings Trust (NEST) and First National Bank of Omaha announced today the fifth annual “Draw Your Dreams” contest that will run from August 5 through September 30. Twelve winners will each receive a $1,000 contribution to a NEST 529 College Savings Plan account.
To qualify for the scholarship, students must create and submit 9-by-12-inch landscape-oriented pictures of what they dream of becoming when they grow up. Each piece of art must be created using pencil, crayons, paint, or watercolor or paper collage. Members of the Nebraska Art Teachers Association will judge the entries. The contest is open to children in kindergarten through eighth grade in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. Entries are limited to the first 400 submissions entered between August 5 and September 30.
“What better way for a child to envision the future than to create a piece of art that portrays the child’s dreams and goals? Encouraging children to think about what they want to be when they grow up jumpstarts the conversation about saving for college and inspires families to start saving now,” said Nebraska State Treasurer Don Stenberg, Trustee of NEST. “The first step is to ignite an interest in our future scientists, lawyers, politicians, teachers, journalists, social workers, and skilled trades men and women. The next step is to help young people make it happen.”
“NEST is helping families across the country reach their college savings goals and achieve their big dreams that come after graduation,” said Deborah Goodkin, Managing Director, Savings Plans, First National Bank of Omaha. “We are thrilled to be awarding 12 students a $1,000 contribution to a NEST 529 Plan account in hopes that one day their drawings will come to life.”
Entries can be submitted starting 12 a.m. August 5 and must be received by 11:59 p.m. September 30. Only scanned or photographed copies of the original drawings will be accepted. Entries may be submitted online at planartsnetwork.org where a parent or guardian can upload the art and enter contact information. Copies (not originals) of the drawing also are accepted by mailing to First National Bank of Omaha, ATTN: Draw Your Dreams Scholarship, 1620 Dodge St., Stop 1105, Omaha, NE 68197-1105. All entries must include entrant information as explained in the official rules.
For complete scholarship contest rules and regulations, visit www.NEST529.com and click on Grow. Then select Scholarships & Rewards. Contest rules also are available at https://treasurer.nebraska.gov/csp/scholarships/.
To find out more about NEST College Savings Plans, visit www.NEST529.com or treasurer.nebraska.gov.
About NEST
NEST is a tax-advantaged 529 college savings plan and provides four plans to help make saving for college simple and affordable: NEST Direct College Savings Plan, the NEST Advisor College Savings Plan, the Bloomwell 529 Education Savings Plan, and the State Farm 529 Savings Plan. The Nebraska State Treasurer serves as Program Trustee. Union Bank & Trust Company serves as Program Manager, and all investments are approved by the Nebraska Investment Council. Families nationwide are saving for college using Nebraska’s 529 College Savings Plans, which have more than 285,000 accounts, including over 94,000 in Nebraska. Visit NEST529.com and treasurer.nebraska.gov for more information.
About First National Bank of Omaha
First National Bank of Omaha is a subsidiary of First National of Nebraska. First National of Nebraska and its affiliates have more than $23 billion in assets and 5,000 employee associates. Primary banking offices are located in Nebraska, Colorado, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, South Dakota and Texas.
