Davis School District student wins bookmark contest, earns scholarship
Layton boy’s artwork rewarded with funds for higher education
(Salt Lake City) Local third-grade student, Walker Heiner, won a $1,000 Utah Educational Savings Plan (UESP) college savings scholarship account for his entry in the UESP and StepUp to Higher Education’s Make Your Mark bookmark contest. His bookmark was selected from more than 1,500 entries.
Walker, who attends North Davis Preparatory Academy in Layton, was honored with other winners at an awards luncheon held November 7 at Zions Bank headquarters in Salt Lake City.
Make Your Mark, in its seventh year, was held in conjunction with Governor Gary Herbert’s declaration of September as College Savings Month. The contest advocates saving and preparing for higher education and promotes reading and the arts.
Walker, who has expressed an interest in paleontology, is already making college plans.
“I want to go to Weber State because both my mom and dad went there,” he said.
His parents, Clint and Melanie Heiner, stress the importance of higher education and college savings. Both have advanced degrees, and have opened college savings accounts for their children.
“The day [Walker] was born, we had an account open for him,” Clint said.
Walker can use his $1,000 UESP college savings scholarship account at any college, university, or technical school in the United States or abroad that participates in federal financial aid programs for students.
“Make Your Mark helps students jump-start or add to their college savings,” said Lynne Ward, UESP executive director. “It’s never too early or too late to start saving, and even small amounts go a long way toward helping with higher education costs. Utah families can receive the added benefit of state tax credits for saving.”
See Walker’s bookmark and other winning entries at uesp.org. For more information about the Utah Educational Savings Plan, visit uesp.org, call UESP at 800.418.2551, or email info@uesp.org.
About UESP
UESP, Utah’s official nonprofit 529 college savings plan, is highly ranked by Morningstar Inc., Kiplinger’s Personal Finance magazine, Money magazine, CBS MoneyWatch.com, and consumer expert Clark Howard for its low fees and industry innovations such as its customized allocation investment options.
Accounts are free to open, and UESP requires no minimum deposit or account balance. UESP’s user-friendly website, uesp.org, makes it easy to open, manage, and contribute to an account online.
To learn more about the Utah Educational Savings Plan, visit uesp.org, call UESP toll-free at 800.418.2551, or send an email to info@uesp.org.