• PRINT EDITIONS
  • | CONTACT
  • | TEL: 304.645.1206 | E: hello@wvdn.com
Monday, September 22, 2025
West Virginia Daily News
  • Home
  • News
  • Community
  • Obituaries
  • Sports
  • Government
    • All
    • City
    • County
    • State
    Governor Patrick Morrisey speaks during his press briefing on Wednesday, Jan. 29 after meeting with House and Senate leaders.

    Morrisey Sees Unique Opportunity to Grow West Virginia Economically

    Shelley Moore Capito

    Capito Votes to Confirm Sean Duffy for Transportation Secretary

    Capito, Whitehouse Announce EPW Subcommittee Assignments for the 119th Congress

    Senate President Randy Smith Names Leadership Team, Major Committee Chairmen for 87th Legislature

    Speaker Hanshaw Announces Plans for Upcoming 87th Legislature

    Miller’s Statement on Being Sworn in to her Fourth Term in Congress

    Trending Tags

    • Greenbrier County
    • Politics
    • Senate
    • Monroe County
    • White Sulphur Springs
    • Rainelle
    • Lewisburg
    • Alderson
    • City
    • County
    • State
  • Entertainment
  • PUBLIC NOTICES
    • PUBLIC LEGAL NOTICES
    • PUBLIC ANNOUNCEMENTS
    • STATEWIDE LEGALS SEARCH
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
  • Community
  • Obituaries
  • Sports
  • Government
    • All
    • City
    • County
    • State
    Governor Patrick Morrisey speaks during his press briefing on Wednesday, Jan. 29 after meeting with House and Senate leaders.

    Morrisey Sees Unique Opportunity to Grow West Virginia Economically

    Shelley Moore Capito

    Capito Votes to Confirm Sean Duffy for Transportation Secretary

    Capito, Whitehouse Announce EPW Subcommittee Assignments for the 119th Congress

    Senate President Randy Smith Names Leadership Team, Major Committee Chairmen for 87th Legislature

    Speaker Hanshaw Announces Plans for Upcoming 87th Legislature

    Miller’s Statement on Being Sworn in to her Fourth Term in Congress

    Trending Tags

    • Greenbrier County
    • Politics
    • Senate
    • Monroe County
    • White Sulphur Springs
    • Rainelle
    • Lewisburg
    • Alderson
    • City
    • County
    • State
  • Entertainment
  • PUBLIC NOTICES
    • PUBLIC LEGAL NOTICES
    • PUBLIC ANNOUNCEMENTS
    • STATEWIDE LEGALS SEARCH
No Result
View All Result
West Virginia Daily News
No Result
View All Result
Writing letter to a friend

Cabell County Student Wins $5,000 Grand Prize in SMART529 ‘When I Grow Up’ Statewide Essay Contest

September 22, 2025
Photo provided by PSC

PSC Participates in National Truck Driver Appreciation Week 2025

September 22, 2025

WV Dept. of Ed. Awards Excellence at Career Tech Administrators’ Conference

September 22, 2025
Closeup of numbers on calendar page

Carnegie Hall Calendar of Events for October

September 19, 2025

Carnegie Hall Announces 2025 Taste of Our Towns Entertainment

September 19, 2025

Tags

Art BU Business Carnegie Hall Charleston college Community County Court Dear Abby Dr EPA Fair Family Featured Gov Grant Greenbrier Greenbrier County Greenbrier East health Home Justice Land Last Lewisburg Local Man New NY Obituary Plan Project Ronceverte School Son State The Greenbrier University US VA Virginia West Virginia White Sulphur Springs WV
QR Code

Cabell County Student Wins $5,000 Grand Prize in SMART529 ‘When I Grow Up’ Statewide Essay Contest

by WV Daily News
in State News
September 22, 2025
Reading Time: 3 mins read
0
Writing letter to a friend

Writing letter to a friend

1
SHARES
10
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

CHARLESTON, W.Va. (WVDN) – State Treasurer Larry Pack named Cora Neace, a first-grade student at Ona Elementary School in Cabell County, this year’s $5,000 Grand Prize Winner of the 2025 SMART529 “When I Grow Up” essay contest during a special recognition ceremony Friday at the Culture Center in Charleston.

The annual essay contest’s 15 regional student winners, who were announced earlier this year, along with their families, attended Friday’s awards ceremony to be recognized and read their winning essays.

Neace 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 veterinarian.

“The When I Grow Up essay contest allows children to get together with their parents to talk about their future career goals and aspirations. The contest inspires them to start preparing to achieve those dreams,” Treasurer Pack said. “I want to congratulate all of these students for sharing what they want to become when they grow up.”

This is the 18th year for the annual When I Grow Up essay contest.

Students were required to submit, in 200 words or less, an essay that explains what they want to be when they grow up. Entries were judged on originality, creativity, and the importance of post-secondary education.

This year, 3,315 West Virginia students submitted essays as part of the contest. Essays from three age groups (grades K-1, 2-3, and 4-5) were judged in each of the five geographic regions, generating a total of 15 regional winners.

Each regional winner received $500 to be invested into a SMART529 account. An additional $4,500 was awarded to the grand prize winner.

Each regional winner’s school will also be awarded a $500 cash prize to support school programs.

The winners, their schools (2024-2025 school year) and their dream professions are:

2025 “When I Grow Up” Contest Student Winners

Region One: 

  • Jaxon Bryant, 1st Grade at Holden Central Elementary in Logan County – Paleontologist
  • Matthew “Parker” Delp, 2nd Grade at Mabscott Elementary in Raleigh County – Welder 
  • Lucas Dingess, 4th Grade at Hugh Dingess Elementary in Logan County – Astronaut

Region Two: 

  • Cora Neace, 1st Grade at Ona Elementary in Cabell County – Veterinarian
  • Hayden Rolfe, 3rd Grade at Overbrook Elementary in Kanawha County – NASA Astronaut 
  • Iva Flanagan, 4th Grade at Holz Elementary in Kanawha County – Fashion Designer

Region Three: 

  • Aiden Jose, Kindergarten at The Bruceton School in Preston County – Mechanical Engineer
  • Reese Morris, 2nd Grade at Franklin Farms Academy in Marion County – Illustrator
  • Grady Walsh, 4th Grade at Terra Alta East Preston School in Preston County – Agritourism Entrepreneur

Region Four: 

  • Roberto Gutierrez, Kindergarten at Hedgesville Elementary in Berkeley County – Scientist 
  • Lyra Gildowan, 3rd Grade at Warm Springs Intermediate in Morgan County – Teuthologist  
  • Corrina Burkhart, 4th Grade at Jennings Randolph Elementary in Randolph County – Entomologist

Region Five: 

  • Maizy Cooper, Kindergarten at A.T. Allison Elementary in Hancock County – Architect 
  • Hudson Adams, 2nd Grade at Wheeling Country Day School in Ohio County – Penguinologist 
  • Gabby Dantrassy, 5th Grade at Glen Dale Elementary in Marshall County – Virtual Reality Game Designer

The statewide teacher winner was:

2025 ‘When I Grow Up’ Statewide Teacher Winner: 

  • Mrs. Beth Jones, Teacher at Sophia Christian Academy, Raleigh County 

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. Complete information about SMART529 plans and investment options is available at www.SMART529.com.

This page is available to subscribers. Click here to sign in or get access.

WV Daily News

West Virginia Daily News has been serving Greenbrier and Monroe Counties since 1852.

Tags: ArtcontestCountySMART529StateStudentWin

Related

Photo provided by PSC
State News

PSC Participates in National Truck Driver Appreciation Week 2025

September 22, 2025
State News

WV Dept. of Ed. Awards Excellence at Career Tech Administrators’ Conference

September 22, 2025
Farmer hands planting to soil tomato seedling in the vegetable garden. On the background a watering can for irrigation. Organic farming and spring gardening concept
State News

WVDA Issues Guidance for Farmers Amid Ongoing Drought Conditions

September 19, 2025
State News

WorkForce West Virginia announces plans to move its Wheeling office to The Highlands

September 18, 2025
Load More
[adrotate group="11"]
West Virginia Daily News

The West Virginia Daily News has been serving the Greenbrier Valley and southeastern West Virginia since 1852.

Learn more

Information

  • Home
  • Subscribe to the WV Daily News
  • Grants & Assistance
  • Submit News and Events
  • Privacy Policy
  • Ethics, Standards & Corrections
  • Terms & Conditions
  • Contact Us

Copyright © 2022 The West Virginia Daily News, powered by ECENT CORPORATION. All Rights Reserved.

No Result
View All Result
  • Menu Item
  • _____________
  • Home
  • Editions
  • News
    • Local News
    • National News
    • State News
    • Crime
    • Business and Tech
  • Community
  • Obituaries
  • Sports
    • Local Sports
    • High School Sports
    • College Sports
  • Government
    • City
    • County
    • State
  • Entertainment
  • Public Notices

Copyright © 2022 The West Virginia Daily News, powered by ECENT CORPORATION. All Rights Reserved.