CHARLESTON, W.Va. — The grand prize winner of the SMART529 “When I Grow Up” essay contest wants to be a veterinarian some day.
“I love all animals. Dogs are my favorite. I want to take care of them,” said Raegan Wood, a third grader from Victory Baptist Academy in Raleigh County.
There were 15 students in grades K-5, including Wood, who received a $500 check to be put toward their SMART529 College Savings Program account. Wood’s name was randomly selected during a ceremony Thursday at the state Culture Center. She won an additional $4,500.
“I’m so excited!” Wood said with a big smile.
She said she knew she wanted to become a veterinarian when her dog got sick.
“All the veterinarians pitched in to help her. That’s just what I wanted to be,” she said. “I definitely know I have to go to college for about 6-8 years and study real hard to get all the animals well again.”
Fourth grader Caleb Young, of Fairmont, is home schooled. He has his heart set on becoming a small business owner.
“I would like to help WVU’s economy,” Young told MetroNews. After reading his essay to the crowd on Thursday, he chanted “Let’s go Mountaineers!”
He said when he found out he was one of the 15 winners, “I was happy. I was running around the house!”
Young said in order to accomplish his goal, he would have to get a degree in math and business.
Each student’s essay was judged in three age groups — grades K-1, 2-3 and 4-5. State Treasurer John Perdue recognized the winners during the ceremony where nearly $20,000 in SMART529 savings was handed out.
“It’s going to make a difference in their lives and that’s why I’m so happy about this program because that’s what West Virginia is about,” said Perdue. “They’re our future and if we can make them attain their dream, then that’s very important.”
Perdue said they want kids to start thinking about their future at a young age.
“We want them to realize that they hold the key to open up their doors of opportunity and we want their parents to realize if they can save, they can use that key and change their life and be that doctor, veterinarian, teacher, police officer, whatever they want to be,” he said.
The 15 students were selected out of more than 3,000 entries across West Virginia.
In addition to the student winners, Norma Travis, a first grade teacher at Ansted Elementary School in Fayette County, was awarded $2,500 for her essay about how she planned to educate students about higher education and saving with the SMART529 program.
Thursday’s ceremony was co-hosted by Hartford Life and the West Virginia State Treasurer’s Office. It was the 9th year of the contest.
For more information about the SMART529 program, visit SMART529.com.