Winners in the 2021 “Why I Want to Go to College” writing contest, sponsored by the Nebraska State Treasurer’s Office and the Omaha Storm Chasers, were announced today by Nebraska Treasurer John Murante. The students will be recognized before the start of the Storm Chasers vs. St. Paul 1:05 pm game at Werner Park in Papillion on Sunday, May 9.
Students were asked earlier this year to reflect in their written entries on the value of education and what they hope to achieve through higher education. Winners receive a contribution to a Nebraska Educational Savings Trust (NEST529) college savings account, 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 were also chosen.
“It is exciting to be able to recognize our writing contest winners at Werner Park on Sunday and to present each of them with a contribution to their NEST529 account,” said Murante. “This is the 19th year of this contest for seventh and eighth graders, and, like in past years, the quality of the students’ writing, their clarity of vision for their futures, and their expressions of gratitude to parents, siblings, teachers, and mentors were tremendously impressive.”
Winners of the 2021 contest and their hometowns are listed below:
1st Congressional District— Nebraska
| First: | Madison Johnson, | Waverly |
| Second: | Lilian (Lily) Crandall-Peterson, | Lincoln |
| Third: | Addison Williams, | Lincoln |
2nd Congressional District— Nebraska
| First: | Cooper Mroczek, | Elkhorn |
| Second: | Isaac Smith, | Papillion |
| Third: | Brett Vance, | Elkhorn |
3rd Congressional District— Nebraska
| First: | Jordyn Ellison, | Litchfield |
| Second: | Jayda Backous, | Alliance |
| Third: | Sari LaDeaux, | Valentine |
Out of State
| First: | Elliana Finck, | Verndale, MN |
| Second: | Travis Reimer, | Shingle Springs, CA |
| Third: | Olivia Serrano, | Cherry Hill, NJ |
About NEST 529
NEST 529 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 297,000 accounts, including over 97,000 Nebraskans. Visit NEST529.com and treasurer.nebraska.gov for more information.
About Union Bank & Trust
Founded in 1917 with over 50 years of family ownership, Union Bank & Trust offers complete banking, lending, investment, and trust services. The bank has 38 full-service and loan production offices in Nebraska and Kansas. It is the third-largest privately owned bank in Nebraska, with bank assets of $7.6 billion and trust assets of $43.6 billion as of December 31, 2022. Voters have chosen Union Bank & Trust as Best Bank, Best Customer Service, Best Work Environment, and Best Financial Planner in Lincoln for eleven years running.
