Eight Nebraska students were recognized Sunday at Werner Park in Papillion for their winning entries in the 2018 “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 shook hands and handed out certificates to first-, second-, and third-place winners in each of Nebraska’s three congressional districts. Winners from outside Nebraska did not attend. Each first-place winner received a $2,000 Nebraska Educational Savings Trust (NEST 529) scholarship. Each second-place winner received a $1,000 NEST 529 scholarship, and each third-place winner received a $500 scholarship.
The seventh and eighth graders were recognized at home plate before the start of the Sunday afternoon game with New Orleans.
“I want to congratulate these students for their thoughtful essays and for putting in the time and effort to express their goals and ambitions in writing. I am especially struck by the students’ references to parents, siblings, teachers, and mentors who inspire them to dream big and who guide them to fulfilling their goals,” said Treasurer Stenberg, who is Trustee of NEST 529.
Winners of the 2018 contest and their hometowns are listed below:
1st Congressional District — Nebraska
| First: | Carmen Marley | Lincoln |
| Second: | Adeline Stanley | Blair |
| Third: | Julia Abraham | Lincoln |
2nd Congressional District — Nebraska
| First: | Isaiah Currie | Gretna |
| Second: | Molly McBride | Omaha |
| Third: | Logan Miller | Springfield |
3rd Congressional District — Nebraska
| First: | Kennedy Warneke | Pierce |
| Second: | Juliana Schmitz | Kearney |
| Third: | Shelby March | Wymore |
Outside Nebraska
| First: | Tyler Laureano | Orlando, Florida |
| Second: | Alexander Williford | Bloomington, Illinois |
| Third: | Olivia Foster | Brookings, South Dakota |
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.
