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Bright Futures for 2008 Contest Winners

Contest Winners Announced

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December 3, 2008 - The 2008 When I Grow Up essay contest winners were announced in a December 3 press conference held at the Clay Center in Charleston, WV. Fifteen winners were selected out of over 1,800 entries received this year, and each is awarded a $500 SMART529 WV Direct account. An additional Grand Prize award of $4,500 is awarded to Ashley Cooper, by WV State Treasurer John Perdue, who drew his/her name out of a bowl containing the names of the fifteen winners. Schools benefited too, as each winner's school received a $500 check to support school programs.

A crowd of over 100 people gathered at the Clay Center to congratulate the winners, including family members, elementary school staff, members of the West Virginia State Treasurers' Office, and representatives from Hartford Life. The winners had a chance to read their entries to the audience and pose for photographs, followed by a luncheon and tour of the Clay Center exhibits.

The When I Grow Up essay contest is sponsored by the SMART529 College Savings program to promote awareness of SMART529 and the need to save for college. This year's contest sought teacher involvement in using When I Grow Up as a prompt for a classroom writing activity. Curricular areas and content standards, as well as developmental guidance standards, were distributed through the schools to support teachers who were interested in this activity. The entries were judged by State Board of Education Vice-Chair Priscilla Haden, Charleston Daily Mail Editor and Publisher Nanya Friend and The Manahan Group Vice President of Account Service Amanda Wilson.

View the Winning Entries

"When I Grow Up" Contest Winners

Grade Winner School County Occupation
K-1 Molly Mt. Hope Elementary Fayette President
2nd-3rd Georgia Homeschooled Fayette Seal and Dolphin Trainer
4th-5th Nicholas Man Elementary Logan Meteorologist
K-1 Aidan Winfield Elementary Putnam Weatherman/Tornado Chaser
2nd-3rd Nathan Eastbrook Elementary Putnam Archeologist
4th-5th Ashley Salt Rock Elementary Cabell Astronaut
K-1 Robert Charles Hodgesville Elementary Upshur Naturalist
2nd-3rd Megan Johnson Elementary Harrison Entomologist
4th-5th Jacob Simpson Elementary Harrison Geologist
K-1 Keyzar Rosemont Elementary Berkeley Doctor
2nd-3rd Kara Tomahawk Intermediate Berkeley Teacher
4th-5th Nicholas Tomahawk Intermediate Berkeley Judge
K-1 Maci Christine Doddridge County Elementary Doddridge Occupational Therapist
2nd-3rd Kailey Glen Dale Elementary Marshall Music Teacher
4th-5th Raeanne Follansbee Middle Brooke Pediatric Nurse

Information about this year's essay contest was made available through the SMART529.com website, in the SMART529 program's fall school newsletter "SMART Family News," as well as through direct mail. 160,000 newsletters were distributed through public and elementary schools across the state. Mailings were sent to West Virginia families with elementary school children, prompting interest from home-schooled children as well.

A When I Grow Up contest is planned for fall 2009.

The Hartford West Virgina College Prepaid Tuition and Savings Program Board of Trustees Office of the State Treasurer, John Perdue. Read his Smart529 Statement.
West Virginia
State Treasurer's
website

SMART529 is a program of the West Virginia College Prepaid Tuition and Savings Program Board of Trustees and is administered by Hartford Life Insurance Company.

West Virginia provides its residents with tax advantages for investing in SMART529. If you reside in or have taxable income in a state other than West Virginia, you should consider whether your state has a qualified tuition program that offers favorable state income tax or other benefits exclusive to your state's program that are not available under the SMART529 program.

Non-qualified withdrawals are taxable as ordinary income to the extent of earnings and may also be subject to a 10% federal income tax penalty. Such withdrawals may have state income tax implications.

Investments in SMART529 are not guaranteed or insured by the State of West Virginia, the Board of Trustees of the West Virginia College Prepaid Tuition and Savings Program, the West Virginia State Treasurer's Office, Hartford Life Insurance Company, The Hartford Financial Services Group, Inc., the investment sub-advisors for the Underlying Funds or any depository institution. Investments in SMART529 are subject to investment risks, including the loss of the principal amount invested, and may not be appropriate for all investors.

Investments in SMART529 are subject to certain charges, which will reduce the value of your Account as they are incurred. Please see the Offering Statement for details of charges or fees that apply to the specific SMART529 savings plan.

This information is written in connection with the promotion or marketing of the matter(s) addressed in this material. The information cannot be used or relied upon for the purpose of avoiding IRS penalties. These materials are not intended to provide tax, accounting or legal advice. As with all matters of a tax or legal nature, you should consult your own tax or legal counsel for advice.

You should carefully consider the investment objectives, risks and charges and expenses of SMART529 and its Underlying Funds before investing. This and other information can be found in the Offering Statement for SMART529 and the prospectuses or other disclosure documents for the Underlying Funds, which can be obtained on this website or by calling toll-free (866) 574-3542. Please read them carefully before you invest or send money. SMART529 is distributed by Hartford Securities Distribution Company Inc.  Member SIPC.

"The Hartford" is The Hartford Financial Services Group, Inc. and its subsidiaries.

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