CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Students from elementary schools across the Mountain State have big dreams about what they want to do when they grow up. Fifteen of them articulated those dreams well enough to be selected as regional winners in the Smart 529 “When I Grow Up Essay Contest” put on by the West Virginia Treasurer’s Office.
“Every time I get around students like this it really gives me a lot of confidence for the future. West Virginia is in good hands,” said State Treasurer Larry Pack.
Pack welcomed the regional winners and their parents to Charleston Monday for the event. Each student stepped to the podium, sharply dressed and shared their essay with the assembled crowd.
“When I grow up, I want to be a pediatrician because I have experienced being a sick child in the hospital. I have been sick a lot growing up and I know how scary it can be in the hospital. I want to be there to support children. I would bring all of the children’s cupcakes and crafts. I would listen and answer all of their questions. Spreading joy while treating my patients would make me happy,” wrote Raleigh County second grader Jada Harris.
Meanwhile William Lenhart, a Kindergartner from Monongalia County wanted to be a mechanic and a coal miner.
“When I am a coal miner, I want to drive the train down into the mine and I will get coal for fires in places that need it,” he read from his essay.
All 15 regional winners won a $500 contribution to a Smart 529 plan to begin building savings for their future education to reach those dreams they wrote about in the essay. Pack drew one name from all 15 and that lucky youngster, Noah Yearout, a 5th Grader from Mercer County won another $4500 for his Smart 529 Account. Noah wanted to be an I-T Specialists as his career someday.
“I can picture myself working at companies like Apple, Google, T-Mobile, or ATT. I will make sure every customer knows everything they need to know about their device,” he read in his essay. “I won’t just sell them a gadget; I’ll help them understand it. My passion for technology is my strength, and I cannot wait to use it to help others.”
Pack encouraged everyone to open a Smart 529 account to begin saving early for a youngster’s college experience.
“We’re trying to bring awareness to the 529 plan to get more parents and more grandparents to open up accounts and start saving. Little amounts, big amounts, it really doesn’t matter, just get started and get it into the budget. It makes a difference,” Pack said.