WHEELING -- State Treasurer John Perdue honored Glen Dale Elementary’s Kailey Filben and Follansbee Middle’s Raeann Lahita Tuesday at West Virginia Northern Community College, for being among 15 winners in the “When I Grow Up. . .” essay contest.

Filben and Lahita have already received $500 for winning their regional age group. The ceremony took place at the B&O Building Auditorium. Lahita could not attend.

“We’re thrilled to present this seed money for a SMART529 savings plan to Kailey and Raeann and their parents,” Treasurer Perdue said. “As I’ve said many times, nothing opens the doors of opportunity like education.”

The contest, run by the Treasurer’s Office and The Hartford Financial Co., drew 1,800 entrants from across the state. Filben won in her region’s age category for writing about her plans to be a music teacher. She wrote that her own music teacher makes learning cool. Lahita says she wants to be a pediatric nurse and comfort children in their time of pain.

Filben and Lahita will use their prize money to start a SMART529 college savings account. Also receiving $500 from The Hartford were Glen Dale Principal John Lee and Follansbee Middle Principal Kim Johnson. The schools were recognized for having prize winners. The Hartford administers the state’s SMART529 college savings program.

To read both children’s full essays, go to www.wvtreasury.com and scroll down to the contest winners.