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:
Winners from outside of Nebraska will receive monetary prizes for first, second, and third places.
The following guidelines apply for all participants:
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.
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.
