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CHARLESTON - Abigail Miller, a fifth-grade student from Hancock County was named the $5,000 grand prize winner of the 2023 SMART529 "When I Grow Up" essay contest, it was announced Friday during a recognition ceremony held at the West Virginia Culture Center and State Museum.
Miller, who entered the contest while in fourth grade at A.T. Allison Elementary, was unable to attend Friday's ceremony, according to a representative of the State Treasurer's Office, which organizes the essay contest. She will be presented with her prize at a later date.
"The When I Grow Up contest is always a great event that brings kids together with their parents to talk about their future career dreams and to start preparing for how they can achieve them," State Treasurer Riley Moore said. "We always tell people, 'It's never too early to start saving for your child's future,' and this essay contest helps families focus on their child's goals. This contest is always an inspiring event, and I congratulate these young children for sharing their dreams."
Miller was one of 15 regional winners of the essay contest and was randomly selected as the grand prize winner during the awards ceremony. In her essay, she wrote about her dream of growing up to become a culinary chemist.
More than 3,000 students from around the state participated in the contest this year. Essays from three age groups - kindergarten and first grade; second and third grade; and fourth and fifth grade - were judged in each of the five geographic regions, for a total of 15 regional winners.
Each regional student winner receives $500 to invest into a SMART529 account, with the grand prize winner receiving an additional $4,500 prize. In addition to school of each regional winner has been awarded a $500 cash prize to support school programs.
SMART529 is a qualified tuition program issued by the Board of Trustees of the West Virginia College and Jumpstart Savings Programs and administered by Hartford Funds.
Teachers in kindergarten through fifth grade also had an opportunity to compete in a portion of the essay contest, with Amanda Coon, a fifth-grade teacher at C.W. Shipley Elementary in Jefferson County, receiving a $2,500 cash prize.
In addition to Miller, Region Five winners were Ryker Roberts from Hilltop Elementary in Marshall County and Madeline Farnsworth from Kanawha Elementary in Wood County.
This is the 16th year for the essay contest.