Connecticut Treasurer Erick Russell, Trustee of the Connecticut Higher Education Trust (CHET), announced the kickoff of the 2023 CHET Dream Big! Competition today. The competition is open to all Connecticut residents in grades K-12 and will run from August 1 through November 6, 2023.
As part of the Dream Big! Competition, more than $450,000 in CHET 529 College Savings Plan – Direct Plan account contributions will be awarded to students in grades K-12 along with technology prizes to schools across Connecticut. Three students will be awarded $20,000 prizes, 24 will be awarded $6,000 prizes and 336 will be awarded $500 prizes.
In addition, each school in Connecticut that has at least one student entry will be eligible for a random drawing where a total of ten schools will win a technology prize each valued at $7,500. Please see the 2023 competition official rules for more information on prize structure and awards.
“The Dream Big! Competition is an exciting and empowering way to help Connecticut kids and their families build a better future and prepare for future education,” said Treasurer Russell. “Dream Big! is an important piece of the CHET program and provides a great opportunity for students to reflect on themselves and their communities, and how their dreams can improve the world around them. I’m excited to see the creative and thoughtful projects that are submitted this year.”
Grounded in helping Connecticut families build a better future, this year’s competition theme aims to inspire students by asking younger students to answer a question about improving their communities and the lives of others. Older students will be asked to describe a lesson they’ve learned and how it will influence their future. Submissions must be uploaded by 5:00 p.m. on November 6. For details on the program and entry process visit www.chetdreambig.com.
Entry instructions, official rules and additional details can also be found at www.chetdreambig.com. No purchase is necessary to enter or win.
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 Over $2.1 billion has been withdrawn from CHET accounts to help more than 57,000 students pay for college expenses.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.
About Fidelity Investments
Fidelity's mission is to strengthen the financial well-being of our customers and deliver better outcomes for the customers and businesses we serve. With assets under administration of $11.1 trillion, including discretionary assets of $4.2 trillion as of March 31, 2023, we focus on meeting the unique needs of a diverse set of customers. Privately held for over 75 years, Fidelity employs more than 70,000 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.
NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. Void where prohibited. Open to legal U.S. residents, residing in Connecticut, who are at least 18 years old and are the parents or legal guardians of a student currently enrolled in a Connecticut school Grades K-12 as of 8/1/23. Competition begins 9:00 a.m. ET on 8/1/23; ends 5:00 p.m. ET on 11/06/23. Entrant prizes will be a contribution to an eligible CHET 529 Direct Plan Account established for the benefit of the child whose parent submitted a winning entry. For Official Rules and eligibility, visit chetdreambig.com. Fidelity Brokerage Services LLC. Member NYSE, SIPC, 900 Salem Street, Smithfield, RI 02917.
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.
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