Eight Utah students received $1,000 Utah Educational Savings Plan (UESP) college savings scholarship accounts for their winning entries in the 2015 “Make Your Mark” Bookmark Contest sponsored by UESP and the StepUp to Higher Education social awareness campaign.

More than 2,000 students from all parts of Utah in kindergarten through 12^th grade submitted their bookmark designs during the monthlong contest commemorating National College Savings Month in September.

The winners received their $1,000 UESP scholarship accounts during a luncheon ceremony held at the Zions Bank headquarters building in Salt Lake City on November 9.

A panel of judges that included Utah Gov. Gary Herbert and First Lady Jeanette Herbert selected two winners from each of four grade categories in the contest.

The winners are:

• Amber Knapp, Monticello Academy, K-3^rd grade
• Maryanne Cope, Provo eSchool, Provo School District, K-3^rd grade
• Ady Hein, Wasatch Elementary, Salt Lake School District, 4^th-6^th grade
• Tessa Astle, Mona Elementary, Juab School District, 4^th-6^th grade
• Emily Baadsgaard, Roosevelt Junior High, Duchesne County School District, 7^th-8^th grade
• Julianna Smith, Draper Park Middle, Canyons School District, 7^th-8^th grade
• Sarah Gould, Bountiful High, Davis School District, 9^th-12^th grade
• Sierra Brundage, Academy for Math, Engineering & Science (AMES), 9^th-12^th grade

The judges were:

• Chief, the Road to Success mascot, K-3^rd grade
• Michelle Miles, president, Utah Educational Library Media Association, 4^th-6^th grade
• Gary Carlston, president, Snow College, 7^th-8^th grade
• Gary Herbert and First Lady Jeanette Herbert, 9^th-12^th grade

Dr. David Buhler, commissioner of the Utah System of Higher Education, and Daniel Campbell, chairman of the Utah State Board of Regents, were also on hand to present awards.

The winning students can use their UESP college savings scholarship accounts to pay for qualified higher education expenses at any college, university, or technical school in the United States or abroad that participates in federal financial aid programs.

In addition to receiving college scholarship accounts, the winners also may see their professionally reproduced bookmark designs handed out at UESP events around Utah.

See the winning entries in the “Make Your Mark” Bookmark Contest at uesp.org/bookmark.

Important Legal Notice

Read the Program Description for more information and consider all investment objectives, risks, charges, and expenses before investing. Call 800.418.2551 for a copy of the Program Description or visit uesp.org.

Investments in UESP are not guaranteed by UESP, the Utah State Board of Regents, the Utah Higher Education Assistance Authority or any other state or federal agency. However, Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) insurance is provided for the FDIC-insured accounts. Please read the Program Description to learn about the FDIC-insured accounts. Your investment could lose value.

Non-Utah taxpayers and residents: You should determine whether the state in which you or your beneficiary pays taxes or lives offers a 529 plan that provides state tax or other benefits not otherwise available to you by investing in UESP. You should consider such state tax treatment and benefits, if any, before investing in UESP.