The second annual "NEST on the Farm" scholarship contest for children of Nebraska farmers has been announced by the First National Bank of Omaha and the Nebraska State Treasurers office.
Three winners will each receive a $3,500 contribution to a NEST Direct College Savings Plan account. The scholarships will be presented on Sept. 12 at the 2012 Husker Harvest Days show west of Grand Island.
The contest is open to children and teens ages 7 to 13 who live on Nebraska farms or whose parents work on Nebraska farms. One winner will be chosen in each of the following age categories: ages 7-9, 10-11 and 12-13. Each contestant is asked to submit a typed essay of no more than 750 words, describing what farming means in his or her life and how being in a farming family influences his or her higher education goals.
Apply for 'NEST on the Farm' Scholarships
"First National Bank of Omaha has a proud history of working with Nebraska's ag communities," says Deborah Goodkin, managing director of First National Bank of Omaha.
"The NEST on the Farm scholarships give us the opportunity to recognize young people who are involved in Nebraska agriculture and who understand the importance of higher education to their future success," according to Don Stenberg, state treasurer. "We know that one in three jobs in Nebraska has some connection to agriculture. These scholarships are a fitting way to encourage our young people to pursue opportunities for higher education and then to share their knowledge and ingenuity with the agriculture community as they pursue lifelong careers in our state."
All entries are due by mail or email by August 6 and the winners will be selected Aug. 22.
Entries must include a cover sheet with the following information: the entrant's name, address, phone number, age as of Aug. 6, 2012, and parent/guardian's name.
If emailing, send to NEST@fnni.com no later than 11:59 p.m. August 6, 2012. The subject line should read NEST on the Farm Scholarship.
If you're mailing an entry, address it to First National Bank of Omaha, ATTN: NEST on the Farm Scholarship, 1620 Dodge Street, Stop 1105, Omaha, NE 68197. It has to be postmarked no later than Aug. 6.
Each child must have a valid social security number and a Nebraska residential street address. The children must fall within their respective age groups on Aug. 6.
The scholarship will be awarded to the child and deposited into an account owned by the Nebraska Educational Savings Trust, held on behalf of the winner.
For scholarship contest rules, visit the NEST Direct College Savings Plan at www.NEST529direct.com or the State Treasurer's Office at www.treasurer.org.
The Nebraska State Treasurer is the program trustee for NEST. First National Bank of Omaha is program manager.