On June 1, 2021, State Treasurer Shawn T. Wooden, Trustee of the Connecticut Higher Education Trust (CHET), announced the re-launch of the annual CHET Dream Big! competition along with program enhancements including the largest number of potential winners and more inclusive entry options to encourage all eligible students in Connecticut to participate.
This year’s Dream Big! competition offers two programs for Connecticut students:
• K-8: The competition will award over $250,000 in CHET account contributions to 477 students from around the state. Students enter to win a $529 CHET account contribution by showcasing how they plan to make a difference in their community or the world after they attend higher education. Entries can be in essay form, art (drawing, painting, poem, or photograph) or, new this year, a video. Submissions must be uploaded by September 22, 2021. For program details and entry process visit www.chetdreambig.com
• High School: New to the CHET Dream Big! Competition is a high school component (formerly CHET Advance Scholarship). $100,000 will be awarded to 80 students in the Class of 2022. Students must provide information on their academic achievement, extracurricular activities, community service and showcase their future goals and/or leadership in their community. Written or video submissions must be uploaded by September 22, 2021. For program details and entry process visit www.chetdreambig.com.
“I’m proud that we will be able to increase the number of winners and therefore impact even more students across Connecticut to kick-start their higher education savings,” said State Treasurer Wooden. “We are always looking to make higher education more accessible and affordable for families and are excited to provide an added boost of savings to awardees of the CHET Dream Big! Competition.”
Entry instructions, official rules and additional details can be found at www.chetdreambig.com. No purchase is necessary to enter or win. Submissions must be uploaded by September 22, 2021.
About CHET
The Connecticut Higher Education Trust (CHET) direct-sold college savings plan was established in 1997 and has grown to more than $3.5 billion in assets and 132,000 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 Over $2.1 billion has been withdrawn from CHET accounts to help more than 57,000 students pay for college expenses.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/CHETcollegesavings), follow us on Twitter (@CHET529) or on Instagram (@CHET529).
About Fidelity Investments
Fidelity’s mission is to inspire better futures and deliver better outcomes for the customers and businesses we serve. With assets under administration of $10.3 trillion, including discretionary assets of $3.9 trillion as of March 31, 2021, we focus on meeting the unique needs of a diverse set of customers: helping more than 35 million people invest their own life savings, 22,000 businesses manage employee benefit programs, as well as providing more than 13,500 institutions with investment and technology solutions to invest their own clients’ money. Privately held for 75 years, Fidelity employs more than 47,000 associates who are focused on the long-term success of our customers. 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.
Units of the portfolios are municipal securities and may be subject to market volatility and fluctuation.
