4 Nebraska students earn scholarship money for winning essays

         Four Nebraska middle school students are winners in the annual Money Smart Kid Essay Competition hosted by the Nebraska Council on Economic Education. More than 400 students submitted essays in the competition, which was open to Nebraska middle school students in Grades 6 through 8.

            First-place winners each received $500 in the form of a contribution to a Nebraska Educational Savings Plan Trust Direct College Savings Plan account. Second-place winners each received a $250 contribution to a NEST Direct Plan account. The scholarships are sponsored by First National Bank of Omaha. NEST is Nebraska's 529 College Savings Plans and First National Bank of Omaha serves as the program manager.

            "First National Bank of Omaha has always supported financial literacy in our communities," said Deborah Goodkin, managing director of Nebraska College Savings Plans at First National Bank of Omaha. "We congratulate the winners and are proud to partner with the Nebraska Council on Economic Education on this essay contest."

            This year's essay question was, "You have been asked to give your class a short lesson on the importance of financial literacy. What would you say and why?"

            The students winning the $500 scholarships are:

• Madeline White, Grade 7, McMillan Magnet Center in Omaha
• Whitney Steckel, Grade 7, Loup County Public School in Taylor

            In White's essay submission she states, "You can be smart about money by only buying things you need, saving the money you do get and not spending more than you earn."

            The students winning the $250 scholarships are:

• Celine Hope Marie Haynes, Grade 8, Beveridge Magnet School in Omaha
• Ashley Yakopec, Grade 8, Morton Magnet Middle School in Omaha

"Helping young people understand financial terms and responsibilities is an important role for parents, educators, and public officials. We all have a vested interest in doing what we can to ensure that our young people make smart financial decisions when it comes to saving, investing, and spending their hard-earned resources," said State Treasurer Don Stenberg.

            The winning essays are available at www.nebraskacouncil.org.

            The Nebraska Council on Economic Education is a 501(c)3 not-for-profit organization house at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln College of Business Administration. For additional information, contact Jennifer Davidson at 402-472-2333 or jdavidson@nebraskacouncil.org, or visit the website. For information about the Nebraska Educational Savings Plan Trust, visit www.treasurer.org or www.NEST529Direct.com.

Writer: Jennifer Davidson