Winners in the 2011 Nebraska College Savings Program essay contest are photographed with State Treasurer Don Stenberg, right, near home plate at Werner Park in Papillion. Photographed, from left, are Stormy, one of the Storm Chasers’ mascots; Rachel Biar, director of the Nebraska College Savings Program for the State Treasurer’s Office; Emma Cox, North Platte; Carson Guy, Omaha; Abbey Patera, Springfield; Nicholas Swoboda, Omaha; Devon Torskey, Springfield; Erin Bown, Sidney; Emmy Niroula, Omaha; Lauren Foss, Gretna; and Treasurer Stenberg.

• May 24, 2011
• Werner Park
• Papillion, NE

Winners in the 2011 College Savings Program essay contest were recognized Sunday (May 22) at Werner Park in Papillion at the start of the Omaha Storm Chasers game with the Las Vegas 51s.

The Storm Chasers lost 11-7 in the fourth and final game of the weekend series.

The essay contest winners, standing near home plate, were introduced to the baseball crowd over the loudspeaker, and each received a congratulatory handshake and certificate from State Treasurer Don Stenberg. The annual essay contest associated with the Nebraska College Savings Program is sponsored by the State Treasurer’s Office and the Storm Chasers. The theme of this year’s contest was “Why I Want to Go to College.”

Winners were selected from each of Nebraska’s three U.S. Congressional districts and from entries from outside Nebraska. First-place winners received $1,000 each toward a Nebraska College Savings plan and a night’s stay in an Omaha-area hotel; second-place winners received $500 each toward a College Savings plan, and third-place winners received $300 each toward a College Savings plan.

The winners are as follows:

1st Congressional District

2nd Congressional District

3rd Congressional District

Out-of-State

Details about next year’s essay contest will be available on the State Treasurer’s website at www.treasurer.org/csp/scholarships/essay/college/2012 and through local schools in February 2012; the deadline will again be in April.

The Nebraska College Savings Program provides four qualified tuition plans under Section 529 of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code. The four plans in the Nebraska Educational Savings Plan Trust are the NEST Direct College Savings Plan, the NEST Advisor College Savings Plan, the TD Ameritrade 529 College Savings Plan, and the State Farm College Savings Plan. The Nebraska State Treasurer is the Program Trustee, and First National Bank of Omaha is the Program Manager. Investments are approved by the Nebraska Investment Council.

• May 11, 2011
• Lincoln, NE

Twelve winners have been chosen out of a record 1,051 entries in the 2011 College Savings Program essay contest sponsored by the Nebraska State Treasurer’s Office and the Omaha Storm Chasers baseball team.

Seventh and eighth grade students from Nebraska and across the United States were invited to submit essays addressing the theme, “Why I Want to Go to College.” The essays were judged by faculty and students in the College of Education at the University of Nebraska at Omaha with final selections made by State Treasurer Don Stenberg.

Treasurer Stenberg congratulated the winners and thanked all the students who participated, saying he hopes many of this year’s seventh graders will enter the contest again next year and will encourage their friends, classmates, and younger siblings to do the same.

“The students’ reasons for going to college ranged from their desire to earn comfortable incomes in professions they would enjoy to their need to become independent and self-sufficient and find their place in the world,” Stenberg said. “The essays expressed the students’ hopes and dreams for lives of professional success and community service. Some talked about specific career plans, while others expressed their belief that college was a time to explore many career fields and find what best suits their interests and their strengths,” he said.

Here’s what first-place winners said about why they want to go to college:

• “The most important reason I want to go to college is because I want to find out who I really am,” wrote Lauren Foss of Gretna. “I want to work to discover what I should be doing with my life. I want to be doing something that I love and with people I love. I hope college will help me find out what that is. Would I make a good doctor, or maybe a teacher? What about a business woman? The future has so many things to choose from and a college education is going to help me make the right choice.”
• Emmy Niroula of Omaha said she wants to go to college to make her family proud and to serve as a role model for others. “When my sister becomes of age…I want her to be able to follow my footsteps and be proud of it.”
• “Even though I am only in the eighth grade, I still realize the importance of college and how it is the next step towards my career goals,” wrote Erin Bown of Sidney. “Since I am a daddy’s girl, I plan to follow in his footsteps and attend his alma mater (Iowa State)…Having the opportunity to attend college and achieve a degree in teaching would allow me to do what I love, which is working with kids.”
• Elisabeth Werries of Chapin, IL, wrote that she draws her motivation for college from the sky. “I want to float in the sky like a cloud and see what else is out there in the world... I want to see all that the sky gets to look down on every day because I know there is more out there than my small town and I can’t wait to experience it all… college will be the best way to explore what the world has to offer.”

Essay contest organizers were thrilled with this year’s response to the contest, which typically draws 400 to 700 entries. They attribute the record number of entries to the availability of promotional materials in branches of First National Bank of Omaha and its affiliates, the College Savings Program manager, and enhanced promotional efforts on social media outlets including Facebook.

Winners were selected from each of Nebraska’s three U.S. Congressional Districts and from entries received from outside Nebraska. First-place winners receive $1,000 each toward a Nebraska College Savings plan and a night’s stay in an Omaha area hotel; second-place winners receive $500 each toward a College Savings plan; and third-place winners receive $300 each toward a College Savings plan. All Nebraska winners also receive tickets to the May 22 Storm Chasers Minor League baseball game at the new Werner Park in Papillion as guests of State Treasurer Stenberg.

The winners are as follows:

1st Congressional District

2nd Congressional District

3rd Congressional District

Out-of-State

The Nebraska College Savings Program provides four qualified tuition plans under Section 529 of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code. The four plans in the Nebraska Educational Savings Plan Trust are the NEST Direct College Savings Plan, the NEST Advisor College Savings Plan, the TD Ameritrade 529 College Savings Plan, and the State Farm College Savings Plan. The Nebraska State Treasurer is the Program Trustee, and First National Bank of Omaha is the Program Manager. Investments are approved by the Nebraska Investment Council.

“Families can easily save for their children’s college educations through the Nebraska program,” Stenberg said. Plans allow for tax-free investments, and qualified withdrawals are federal and state income tax free. Account owners qualify for up to $5,000 a year in state income tax deductions.*

*Account owners who are Nebraska taxpayers: your contributions up to $5,000 ($2,500 if married filing separately) are deductible in computing your Nebraska state income tax.

• April 5, 2011
• Lincoln, NE

Seventh and eighth grade students in public, private, and home schools have until April 20 to submit entries in the 9th annual Essay Contest associated with the Nebraska College Savings Program. The contest is sponsored jointly by the Omaha Storm Chasers Baseball Club and the Nebraska State Treasurer's Office.

This year's contest entries should address the theme, “Why I Want to Go to College.” The theme was chosen to encourage students to recognize the value of a college education by writing about their educational goals and their dreams for the future. Information about the contest is available through local schools and on the State Treasurer website at www.treasurer.org. Click on the College Savings Program tab.

Winners from Nebraska will receive tickets to the Storm Chasers baseball game on Sunday, May 22, as guests of State Treasurer Don Stenberg. Each first-place winner also will receive $1,000 toward one of Nebraska's College Savings plans and a one-night stay in an Omaha area hotel. Each second-place winner also will receive $500 toward one of the Nebraska College Savings plans, and each third-place winner also will receive $300 toward one of the plans.

First-, second-, and third-place winners will be selected from each of Nebraska's three Congressional Districts and from entries submitted by students living outside Nebraska. Winners from outside of Nebraska will receive monetary prizes for first-, second-, and third-places. Prizes are courtesy of the Omaha Storm Chasers and the State Treasurer's Office.

Essays should be submitted to Andrea Stava, community relations manager for the Omaha Storm Chasers, 12356 Ballpark Way, Papillion, NE 68046. Entries must be postmarked by April 20. The following guidelines apply:

• The essay must be no longer than 750 words.
• The essay must be the student's original work.
• The essay must be double spaced, typed or handwritten, on 8 1/2 by 11 paper.

Families can easily save for their children's college educations through the Nebraska College Savings Program. Plans allow for tax-free investments, and qualified withdrawals are federal and state income tax free. Account owners qualify for up to $5,000 a year in state income tax deductions.*

Nebraska's College Savings Program provides four qualified tuition plans under Section 529 of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code. The four plans in the Nebraska Educational Savings Plan Trust are the NEST Direct College Savings Plan, the NEST Advisor College Savings Plan, the TD Ameritrade 529 College Savings Plan, and the State Farm College Savings Plan. The Nebraska State Treasurer is the Program Trustee, and First National Bank of Omaha is the Program Manager. All investments are approved by the Nebraska Investment Council.

*Account owners who are Nebraska taxpayers: your contributions up to $5,000 ($2,500 if married filing separately) are deductible in computing your Nebraska state income tax.

• February 16, 2011
• Lincoln, NE

Seventh and eighth grade students are invited to submit entries to the 9th Annual Essay Contest associated with the Nebraska College Savings Program and sponsored by the Omaha Storm Chasers Baseball Club and the Nebraska State Treasurer’s Office.

Essays should be no more than 750 words each and should address the theme, “Why I Want to Go to College.” Students in public, private, and home schools are invited to submit essays. The contest is intended to encourage students to recognize the value of a college education by describing their educational goals and their dreams for the future. Information about the contest is available through local schools and on the State Treasurer website at www.treasurer.org.

“Given today’s global economy and rapidly advancing technology, the value of a college education cannot be overstated,” said State Treasurer Don Stenberg. “Our well educated children and grandchildren will provide new ideas and leadership to move our state and our country forward.”

Essay submissions should be sent to Andrea Stava, community relations manager, at Omaha Storm Chasers, 12356 Ballpark Way, Papillion, NE 68046. Entries must be postmarked by April 20, 2011.

First, second, and third place winners will be selected from each of Nebraska’s three Congressional Districts. First, second, and third place winners from outside of Nebraska also will be selected. The winners will be announced in early May. The essays will be judged based on content by faculty and students in the College of Education at the University of Nebraska at Omaha.

Winners from each Congressional District will receive the following prizes, courtesy the Omaha Storm Chasers and the State Treasurer’s Office:

• First place - $1,000 toward one of Nebraska’s College Savings plans, a one-night stay at a premier hotel in the Omaha area, and four tickets to the Omaha Storm Chasers game on Sunday, May 22, as guests of State Treasurer Stenberg.
• Second place - $500 toward one of Nebraska’s College Savings plans, and four tickets to the Omaha Storm Chasers game on Sunday, May 22, as guests of Treasurer Stenberg.
• Third place - $300 toward one of Nebraska’s College Savings plans and four tickets to the Omaha Storm Chasers game on Sunday, May 22, as guests of Treasurer Stenberg.

Winners from outside of Nebraska will receive monetary prizes for first, second, and third places.

The following guidelines apply for all participants:

• The essay must be no longer than 750 words.
• The essay must be the student’s original work.
• The essay must be double spaced, typed or handwritten, on 8 1/2 by 11 paper.

Families can easily save for their children’s college educations through the Nebraska College Savings Program. Plans allow for tax-free investments, and qualified withdrawals are federal and state income tax free. Account owners qualify for up to $5,000 a year in state income tax deductions.*

*Account owners who are Nebraska taxpayers: your contributions up to $5,000 ($2,500 if married filing separately) are deductible in computing your Nebraska state income tax.