CHARLESTON, W.Va. — The grand prize winner for the 2015 SMART529 “When I Grow Up” essay contest wants to grow up to be a veterinarian.
“My mom owns a pet boarding facility and I usually go there to help her out and I just love pets,” Gabby Chico, a 5th grader at Cheat Lake Elementary School in Monongalia County, said soon after her name was drawn for the contest’s $4,500 grand prize Thursday in Charleston.
The money will come in the form of a contribution to a SMART529 college savings account.
Fifteen winners who want to be architects, teachers, nurses and comic book writers among other professions were chosen from 3,017 total applications submitted for the “When I Grow Up” contest.
Each of those winners, including Chico, will receive $500 for their own SMART529 accounts. Those winners are as follows:
– Luke Snuffer, Maxwell Hill Elementary School in Raleigh County
– Zachariah Leggett, Lumberport Elementary School in Harrison County
– Violet Nine, Suncrest Primary School in Monongalia County
– Archana Krishnathas, Ruthlawn Elementary School in Kanawha County
– Autumn Bane, Melrose Elementary School in Mercer County
– Samuel Wright, A.T. Allison Elementary School in Hancock County
– Nathaniel Wilson, Ashton Elementary School in Mason County
– Leah McMahan, A.T. Allison Elementary School in Hancock County
– Mega Ilangovan, Maxwell Hill Elementary School in Raleigh County
– Gabriella Rose, Williamstown Elementary School in Wood County
– Isabelle Merritt, Frankfort Middle School in Mineral County
– Shyla Hatti, Page Jackson Elementary School in Jefferson County
– Kinsley Armstrong, Brandywine Grade School in Pendleton County
– Owen Martin, Poca Elementary School in Putnam County
More than 26,000 West Virginians and upwards of 100,000 people nationwide are already investing in the state’s SMART529 college savings program, according to state Treasurer John Perdue. Those investments, he said, total $2.4 billion.
“Education is so important in life,” he told the “When I Grow Up” essay winners. “I never dreamed coming from Dog Fork Hollow of Boone County that I’d ever be the treasurer of the state of West Virginia, but it was a teacher who made a difference in my life.”
By the time today’s elementary school students turn 18, Perdue estimated their college costs will top $200,000. That’s why he’s stressing the importance of beginning savings for college and other post-high school education early.
“There’s a lot of opportunities for our children in their lifetime and it’s our job to make sure we give them a chance to dream that and to also accomplish that goal in life,” Perdue said.