Vance Students Participate in 2015 CHET Dream Big Competition
By Robin Vinci | Editor at January 30, 2024 | 9:45 am | Print
With chants of “Check CHET Out” by Vance Village Elementary students on Jan. 21, State Treasurer Denise Nappier and Channel 3 TV Weatherman Scott Haney, entered the auditorium to begin the 2015 Chet Dream Big Competition.
CHET Dream Big is a drawing and essay competition for K-8 students sponsored by the Connecticut State Treasurers Office, CHET (Connecticut Higher Education Trust) and TIAA-CREF Tuition Financing.
This year’s competition will award 84 CHET College Savings Account contributions to students across Connecticut, including four grand prize $1,000 accounts. In all it will give $44,000 in prizes.
The competition invites students to express themselves by submitting an original drawing illustrating “what I will do after college?” or writing a 250 word essay responding to the question “how I will change the world after going to college”.
The event took place at Vance because more students participated in it in 2014 than any other school in Connecticut. There were 239 schools that took part in the contest.
“It’s an exciting day for all of here at Vance Village,” said Principal Sarah Harris to the group of students sitting on the floor of the auditorium. “Last week all of you were given an essay question and over 500 filled them out. Some filled out they wanted to be a doctor or a nurse. Some wanted to be a scientist and cure diseases.”
Haney told the children they needed some snow days. He then told them he became a weatherman by going to school.
“If it weren’t for college I would not be where I am today,” he said. “It costs money to go to school.. By the time you guys get to school you are going to need a little bit of savings. That is why we are here today.”
Haney encouraged them to enter the CHET Big Competition telling them winning money for college was better than a snow day.
Nappier asked children what CHET means.
“CHET is a college savings plan. It is where you put your money to make it grow,” Nappier told the students. “I am so excited to be with you here this afternoon because students of Vance Village Elementary School are awesome.”
Nappier said Vance was the best place to kick-off the competition.
“As Trustee for CHET I’m committed to helping Connecticut families give their children a brighter future by making college accessible. Dream Big along with our other CHET promotions inspires families to start talking about the importance of saving for college and reminds them how easy it is to get started,” according to Nappier. “Connecticut currently ranks sixth in the country for average student loan debt. We want to change that and make college more affordable to everyone, so no child is limited by the cost of higher education.”
Nappier told the students other schools want to take the number one spot away from Vance, but that it wouldn’t happen because “you guys are indeed awesome.”
Teachers, principals and parents can learn more about the Dream Big Competition and download and print entry forms at www.chetdreambig.com or www.facebook.com/chetcollegesavings. A Spanish entry form is also available.
Entries must be postmarked by March 27, 2024 and received by March 31, 2015. A panel of judges will select the winners who will be honored in May at an awards ceremony.
Since CHET was established in 1997 more than 29,000 students have used more than $939 million in CHET funds to help pay for college costs.For any additional questions call 866-314-3939.
