Winners in the 2017 “Why I Want to Go to College” writing contest, sponsored by the Nebraska State Treasurer’s Office and the Omaha Storm Chasers, will be recognized Sunday at Werner Park in Papillion.
Nebraska State Treasurer Don Stenberg will recognize the winners at home plate before the 2:05 p.m. start of the Storm Chasers game with the Reno Aces. It will be the third game of a four-game series beginning Friday night.
“As Trustee of the Nebraska Educational Savings Trust, I am looking forward to presenting these young writers and scholars with contributions to NEST college savings accounts. I appreciate their stories about their career plans, the people who inspire them, and their educational goals,” said State Treasurer Stenberg.
Winners receive contributions to Nebraska Educational Savings Trust college savings plans, ranging in value from $500 for third place, $1,000 for second place, and $2,000 for first place. Three winners were chosen in each of Nebraska’s three U.S. congressional districts. Three winners from outside Nebraska also were chosen, but are not expected to attend the Sunday game.
A record 1,847 entries were received this year from across the United States. The contest was announced in January and entries were due March 17. Preliminary judging was done by students and faculty in the College of Education at the University of Nebraska-Omaha with final selections made by Treasurer Stenberg.
Winners of the 2017 contest are listed below:
1st Congressional District— Nebraska
| First: | Becca Walker | Lincoln, Nebraska |
| Second: | Maddox Weckerle-Dietz | Norfolk, Nebraska |
| Third: | Ellie Mahony | Lincoln, Nebraska |
2nd Congressional District— Nebraska
| First: | Dylann Ehegartner | Papillion, Nebraska |
| Second: | Mia Nelson | Omaha, Nebraska |
| Third: | Ed Quintana | Springfield, Nebraska |
3rd Congressional District— Nebraska
| First: | Macie Whalen | Sterling, Nebraska |
| Second: | Weston Reineke | Taylor, Nebraska |
| Third: | Heather Bose | Stamford, Nebraska |
Outside Nebraska
| First: | Eleanor Karueh | Ellicott City, Maryland |
| Second: | Waishy Harmon | Tampa, Florida |
| Third: | Molly Kennedy | Lake City, Minnesota |
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.
About First National Bank of Omaha
First National Bank of Omaha is a subsidiary of First National of Nebraska. First National of Nebraska and its affiliates have more than $23 billion in assets and 5,000 employee associates. Primary banking offices are located in Nebraska, Colorado, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, South Dakota and Texas.
