While a Sunday afternoon at the ball park may seem far away, the time is here for seventh and eighth graders to enter the 13th annual “Why I Want to Go to College” writing contest sponsored by the Nebraska State Treasurer’s Office and the Omaha Storm Chasers, State Treasurer Don Stenberg said today.
Twelve winners will be recognized at the May 10 Storm Chasers game at Werner Park in Papillion, Neb. Three winners will be chosen in each of Nebraska’s three U.S. Congressional districts, and three winners will be selected from outside Nebraska.
First-place winners will each receive a $2,000 contribution to a NEST college savings plan. Second-place winners will each receive a $1,000 contribution to a NEST plan, and third-place winners will each receive a $500 contribution to a NEST plan. First-place winners from Nebraska will receive a one-night hotel stay in Omaha, and all Nebraska winners will receive tickets to the May 10 game.
“Every year we are impressed with the big plans that seventh and eighth graders write about in their ‘Why I Want to Go to College’ essays,” Treasurer Stenberg said. “But we are also struck by the students’ references to their family members, teachers, neighbors, and friends who inspire and motivate them to do well. Contributing to a NEST college savings account for a child, grandchild, niece, nephew, or friend can go a long way to making these big plans reality.”
Treasurer Stenberg said he encourages all seventh and eighth graders in public schools, private schools, and home schools in Nebraska to enter. A total of 1,044 entries were received last year. As in the past, preliminary judging will be done by students and faculty in the College of Education at the University of Nebraska at Omaha, and final selections will be made by Treasurer Stenberg.
Entries are due March 27.
The following rules apply to contest entries:
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.
