Saving SMART for your kid’s future

CHARLESTON, W.Va. — West Virginia state treasurer John Perdue handed out $12,000 worth of smart savings to 15 students in grades kindergarten through fifth grade as part of the annual When I Grow Up SMART529 contest.

More than 3,000 students from across the state wrote an essay about what they wanted to do when they graduated from college or trade school. From a dentist to a zookeeper, a robotic engineer to the owner of a teddy bear factory, they all have big dreams.

A panel of judges chose 15 regional winners who were honored Thursday at the state Culture Center. Each was awarded $500 that will be deposited into a SMART529 direct account. A name was randomly drawn from the finalists and Brynne Hartung of Frankfort Intermediate in Mineral County received the grand prize of a $5,000 deposit into her account.

Given the cost of higher education these days, Perdue said those students will need every penny.

“We’ve got kids, dreaming at a very young age, that they want to go to college. They want to go to higher education or technical education. Competing in the economy today they’re going to have to get an advanced education. That’s what this program is about stressed Perdue.

SMART529 is a prepaid college tuition program that allows family and friends to make deposits into an account and start saving early on.

“The best gift you can give your kids and grandkids at Christmas time is put money in a college savings program,” Perdue said. “They may be a little upset about that, but down the road when they turn 18 and get ready to go to college, they’re going to thank grandma and grandpa and mom and dad for making a difference in their life.”

The treasurer spoke to all the winners and said he was impressed at how seriously even the youngest students are when it comes to squirreling away money.

“I had at least two kids tell me, ‘I’m putting money in my piggy bank to help with my 529.'”





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