03/10/2025
TREASURER ERICK RUSSELL ANNOUNCES CHET DREAM BIG! COMPETITION WINNERS
HARTFORD, Connecticut – State Treasurer Erick Russell, Trustee of the Connecticut Higher Education Trust (CHET), today announced the winners of the 2024 CHET Dream Big! Competition.
Three students were awarded $20,000 prizes and 24 students were awarded $5,000 prizes. An additional 239 students will be awarded $500 prizes this spring. Over 3,500 entries were submitted.
Treasurer Russell also announced that ten schools will receive a $5,000 technology prize to help provide new items like tablets, smartboards, and small electronics for classrooms. Each school in Connecticut represented by at least one entry in the Dream Big! Competition was eligible for a random drawing for these prizes.
“The goal of CHET and the Dream Big! Competition is to help create opportunities for Connecticut’s children that are every bit as big as their dreams,” said Treasurer Rusell. “Once again, students from across the state demonstrated an incredible sense of purpose, passion and creativity through their submissions. I applaud every student who took the time to participate and voice their aspirations, which will undoubtedly become reality. I look forward to seeing all they will accomplish in the years to come.
“I also want to congratulate the ten schools that won technology prizes,” he continued. “We are so thankful for your partnership and encouragement of students to dream big.”
The 2024 Competition, which began Aug. 1, 2024, and ended on Nov. 4, 2024, was open to all Connecticut residents in grades K-12. As part of the competition, younger students were asked to focus on lessons they have learned and their dreams for the future, and older students were asked about an experience or person that has impacted them and how that will influence their future goals. Answers were provided in the form of short essays, drawings, or videos. This year’s winners shared dreams of careers in the arts, science, law enforcement, medicine, and public policy.
Grand prize winner in the kindergarten through fourth grade group, Evelyn H. of North Stonington, submitted a video showcasing her bedroom “vet clinic.” Dressed in a vet costume, she walked viewers through her stuffed and real dog patients, detailing their maladies and how she would fix them. “I love being able to learn about all the infections, and especially how to fix them. I hope to see you and your pets at my clinic someday,” she said.
First prize winner in the fifth through eighth grade group, Aarav P. of Stamford, wrote about overcoming self-doubt when trying out for a team. He faced his anxiety with his new mantra, “not today, fear.” The experience taught him that even when something felt impossible, it’s always worth it to be brave and try.
First prize winner in the ninth through twelfth grade group, Raymond L. of Watertown, submitted a video talking about his experience as a student helper for the middle school and children’s ministries at his church. This volunteer work has helped him establish his goal to be an educator in the public school system and highlighted his passion for everyone to have an equal and fair opportunity to be the best they can be in the classroom.
Since 2013, the Dream Big! Competition has awarded over $4.5 million to Connecticut students to help pay for future education expenses.
For more information about the CHET Dream Big! Competition, including the rest of this year’s winners, go to www.chetdreambig.com.
About the Office of the Treasurer
The Office of the Treasurer is charged with safeguarding Connecticut’s financial resources through prudent cash and debt management, with the State Treasurer serving as principal fiduciary for six state pension and twelve state trust funds. Additionally, the Office enhances the state’s fiscal stability through programs promoting financial literacy and college savings, and it leverages business partnerships to support the advancement of Connecticut’s social and policy priorities, including combating gun violence and protecting our environment. The Office of the Treasurer is led by State Treasurer Erick Russell, the first Black out LGBTQ person to win an election for statewide office in American history. To learn more, visit portal.ct.gov/ott.
About CHET
The Connecticut Higher Education Trust (CHET) direct-sold college savings plan was established in 1997 and has grown to more than $4.2 billion in assets and 161,000 accounts. Over $2.1 billion has been withdrawn from CHET accounts to help more than 57,000 students pay for college expenses. The State of Connecticut offers CHET to help families save for future higher education costs. Funds deposited into a CHET account have tax advantages and can be used at accredited colleges and universities across the country, including vocational and technical schools, and some colleges abroad. Connecticut residents are allowed to deduct 529 contributions from their state income taxes – up to $5,000 for an individual or up to $10,000 for a married couple filing jointly. Investment earnings are exempt from state and federal taxes if used for qualified educational expenses.
For more information, visit AboutCHET.com. Find us on Facebook (facebook.com/CHET529), follow us on Twitter (@CHET529) or on Instagram (@CHET529).
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Fidelity’s mission is to strengthen the financial well-being of our customers and deliver better outcomes for the clients and businesses we serve. Fidelity’s strength comes from the scale of our diversified, market-leading financial services businesses that serve individuals, families, employers, wealth management firms, and institutions. With assets under administration of $15.1 trillion, including discretionary assets of $5.9 trillion as of December 31, 2024, we focus on meeting the unique needs of a broad and growing customer base. Privately held for 78 years, Fidelity employs more than 77,000 associates across the United States, Ireland, and India. For more information about Fidelity Investments, visit https://www.fidelity.com/about-fidelity/our-company.
The Connecticut Higher Education Trust (CHET) 529 College Savings Plan - Direct Plan is offered by the Treasurer of the state of Connecticut and managed by Fidelity Investments. If you or the designated beneficiary is not a Connecticut resident, you may want to consider, before investing, whether your state or the beneficiary's home state offers its residents a plan with alternate state tax advantages or other state benefits such as financial aid, scholarship funds and protection from creditors.
Please carefully consider the plan's investment objectives, risks, charges, and expenses before investing. For this and other information on any 529 college savings plan managed by Fidelity, contact Fidelity for a free Fact Kit or view one online. Read it carefully before you invest or send money.
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Contact: Brett Cody
brett.cody@ct.gov | (959) 529-2468