Nine Nebraska seventh and eighth graders were recognized Sunday at Werner Park in Papillion for their winning entries in the Nebraska Educational Savings Plan Trust (NEST) 2012 essay contest, “Why I Want to Go to College.”

The winners were recognized before the start of the second game of the doubleheader between the Omaha Storm Chasers and the Tacoma Rainiers. The winners were greeted with congratulatory handshakes from Nebraska State Treasurer Don Stenberg, trustee of the Nebraska Educational Savings Trust, and Storm Chasers president and general manager Martie Cordaro.

Three winners from outside Nebraska were unable to attend the event.

This year marks the 10th anniversary of the essay contest sponsored by the State Treasurer’s Office and the Storm Chasers. A total of 679 entries were received. Initial judging was done by students and faculty in the College of Education at the University of Nebraska at Omaha, and final selections were made by State Treasurer Stenberg.

“I want to congratulate this year’s winning entries and to thank all the hundreds of students who shared their hopes and dreams for college with our office. I was impressed with the quality of the writing, as well as the depth of understanding of the necessity of a college education today for their own well-being and for the well-being of society,” State Treasurer Stenberg said.

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. At the Storm Chasers game, each was introduced to the crowd over the loudspeaker and each was given a certificate from Treasurer Stenberg.

The 12 winners and their hometowns and schools are listed here:

1st Congressional District

First:	Andrew Simpson	Breeze Hill Academy	Wayne, NE
Second:	Kathryn (Kate) Scanlan	Platteview Central	Springfield, NE
Third:	Madison Swann	Scott Middle School	Lincoln, NE

2nd Congressional District

First:	Kara Ruffcorn	Westside Middle School	Omaha, NE
Second:	Shayla Andersen	Russell Middle School	Omaha, NE
Third:	Taylor Hogan	McMillan Magnet School	Omaha, NE

3rd Congressional District

First:	Matthew Pekarek	High Plains Community	Stromsburg, NE
Second:	Molly Lambert	Chambers Public School	Ewing, NE
Third:	John Husmann	Catholic High School	Kearney, NE

Out-of-State

First:	Madeline Nicholls	Chandler Preparatory Academy	Chandler, AZ
Second:	Lauren Hynes	Lebanon Junior High School	Lebanon, MO
Third:	David Gutierrez	All Saints Catholic School	Hayward, CA