CHARLESTON — Three students from Randolph and Upshur counties were among the 15 winners of the 2026 SMART529 “When I Grow Up” essay contest.

A special recognition ceremony was held for the 15 winners and their families on March 23 at the Culture Center in Charleston. During the event, students were recognized for their accomplishment and were able to read their winning essays to the audience. This is the 19th year that the annual “When I Grow Up” essay contest has been held.

“The ‘When I Grow Up’ essay contest allows children to get together with their parents to talk about their future career goals and aspirations,” West Virginia State Treasurer Larry Pack said in a release. “The contest inspires them to start preparing to achieve those dreams. I want to congratulate all of these students for sharing what they want to become when they grow up.”

Students were required to submit, in 200 words or less, an essay that explains what they want to be when they grow up. The State Treasurer’s Office states that entries were judged on “originality, creativity and the importance of post-secondary education.”

This year, nearly 2,000 students from across the state submitted essays. Essays from three age groups (grades K-1, 2-3 and 4-5) were judged in each of the five geographic regions, generating a total of 15 regional winners.

In Region Four, which includes Randolph County, first grader Liam Close from Beverly Elementary was among the three regional winners for his essay where he said he wanted to be a farmer when he grows up. Second grader Shea Kozik from Midland Elementary also won in Region Four for her essay on how she wants to be a nature scientist when she grows up.

In Region Three, which includes Upshur County, fifth grader Lydia Wood from Sweet Woods Academy was among the three regional winners for her essay on how when she grows up, she wants to be a chef.

Each regional winner received $500 to be invested into a SMART529 account. The State Treasurer’s Office states that SMART529 is a qualified tuition program issued by the Board of Trustees of the West Virginia College and Jumpstart Savings Programs, and it is administered by Hartford Funds.

Each regional winner’s school will also be awarded a $500 cash prize to support school programs. An additional $4,500 was awarded to the grand prize winner Noah Yearout, a fifth-grade student at Hope Grove Home School in Mercer County, who wrote about his dream to become an IT Specialist.

The 2026 ‘When I Grow Up’ statewide teacher winner was Carly Phillips, a counselor at Elm Grove and Warwood Elementary in Ohio County.

The other 2026 “When I Grow Up” Contest student winners include:

Region One:

Lilly Phipps, Kindergarten at Mountain Valley Elementary in Mercer County – Artist

Jada Harris, 2nd Grade at Crescent Elementary in Raleigh County – Pediatrician

Region Two:

Iris Strader, 1st Grade at Flinn Elementary in Kanawha County – Florist

Chase Behre, 2nd Grade at Montrose Elementary in Kanawha County – Transportation Engineer

Charleigh Riley, 5th Grade at Belle Elementary in Kanawha County – Fashion Designer

Region Three:

William Lenhart, Kindergarten at Cheat Lake Elementary in Monongalia County – Mechanical Engineer

Rhett Koval, 2nd Grade at St. Francis de Sales Central Catholic School in Monongalia County – Pharmaceutical Scientist

Region Four:

Alexander Bankhurst, 4th Grade at Shepherdstown Elementary in Jefferson County – Architect

Region Five:

Nora Lynch, 1st Grade at A.T. Wheeling Country Day School in Ohio County – Animal Shelter Vet

Levi Schumacher, 2nd Grade at AT Allison Elementary in Hancock County – Farmer

Iyla Burke, 4th Grade at Middle Creek Elementary in Ohio County – Pilot