Hartford, CT – State Treasurer Shawn T. Wooden, also a trustee of the Connecticut Higher Education Trust (CHET), today announced he will award over $540,000 to 272 Connecticut students, in kindergarten through 9th grade, who are this year’s winners of the CHET Dream Big! Competition and CHET Advance Scholarship.
“It is with a deep sense of pride that I announce the winners of this year’s CHET Dream Big and Advance Scholarship programs,” said State Treasurer Wooden, who serves as Trustee for CHET. “With this next generation of students coming through our school systems, Connecticut’s future never looked brighter. I am encouraged to see how many of our young students see the importance of civic engagement. The level of engagement and motivation for change is a testament to the education and support from schools, families and communities.”
Over 1,300 elementary and middle school students across the state participated in the competition. Kindergarteners through third graders shared artwork depicting what they want to do after they go to college. Fourth through eighth grade students wrote essays explaining how they will make a difference in their community or the world after college through their job, idea, or community service. Popular themes represented this year included healthcare and science, space exploration, farming, and skilled trades.
For the CHET Advance Scholarship program, first year high school students had the option to enter a civic engagement category or non-merit category. For the first time in the program’s history, there was a category specifically tailored for students attending Connecticut Technical Education and Career System (CTECS) schools.
Additionally, the following schools each received a $500 prize for receiving the most Dream Big and Advance Scholarship entries:
Alice Peck Learning Center – Hamden
Brooklyn Middle School – Brooklyn?
Gainfield Elementary School – Southbury
Madison Elementary School – Bridgeport
North Stonington Elementary School – North Stonington
Smalley Elementary School – New Britain
Vance Elementary School – New Britain
A gallery of Dream Big! winners and their entries can be found at www.chetdreambig.com and a full list of CHET Advance Scholarship winners can be found at www.chetadvance.com.
