Eight 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) 2013 essay contest, “Why I Want to Go to College.”
The winners were congratulated by State Treasurer Don Stenberg, Trustee of NEST, before the start of the game between the Omaha Storm Chasers and Las Vegas 51s. Each winner was introduced to the crowd over the loudspeaker and given a certificate from Treasurer Stenberg. One winner from Nebraska and three from outside the state were unable to attend.
More than 1,400 entries were received in this year’s essay contest, the largest number ever received in the 11 years that the Treasurer’s Office has sponsored the contest. 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 Treasurer Stenberg.
“Congratulations to this year’s winning essay writers, and thank you to the 1,461 students who shared their reasons for going to college. I was impressed with the students’ creativity and their well thought out reasons,” 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 will receive $3,500 each toward a Nebraska College Savings plan; second-place winners will receive $1,000 each toward a College Savings plan, and third-place winners will receive $500 each toward a College Savings plan.
The winners are as follows:
1st Congressional District - Nebraska
| First: | Sophie Anne Glaubius | Wisner-Pilger Junior-Senior High | Wisner, NE |
| Second: | Treslyn Hubbard | Norfolk Junior High | Norfolk, NE |
| Third: | Adam Zastrow | St. Peter's Catholic School | Lincoln, NE |
2nd Congressional District - Nebraska
| First: | Samantha Moulton | Elkhorn Ridge Middle School | Elkhorn, NE |
| Second: | Mallory Bretsen | Alice Buffett Middle School | Omaha, NE |
| Third: | Claire Scanlan | Platteview Central Junior High | Springfield, NE |
3rd Congressional District - Nebraska
| First: | Marisa Hutchinson | Valentine Middle School | Valentine, NE |
| Second: | Britley Schlueter | Wood Lake School | Wood Lake, NE |
| Third: | Mitchell Leininger | Moving Mountains Home School | Auburn, NE |
Out-of-State
| First: | Micki Miller | Family of Christ Christian School | Lutz, FL |
| Second: | Zoe Jee | Harry C. Fulton Middle School | Fountain Valley, CA |
| Third: | Mary Elizabeth Hartness | North Habersham Middle School | Clarkesville, GA |
Details about next year’s essay contest will be available on the State Treasurer’s website at www.treasurer.org and through local schools in February 2014; the deadline will be in April 2014. Photographs from this year’s events can be viewed at www.treasurer.org. Click on Essay Contest on the left navigational pane of the College Savings tab.
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.
