West Virginia State Treasurer John Perdue made a visit to Johnson Elementary School today to deliver some well-deserved funds.

 

Thanks to Kindergarten student Payton Tomes, the school was awarded $500 which, according to Principal Vicki Huffman, will be put to good use to benefit students. The daughter of Matt and Lauren Tomes, Payton was also awarded $500, a deposit to start her SMART 529 college fund. She is one of several elementary students across the state who have been declared finalists in the SMART 529 Writing Contest. In her essay, Payton said she wants to grow up to run a business – and a cash register. By doing that, she said she will be able to be part of her community and give back to the people who live there.

 

Perdue presented Payton with a symbolic check in front of her Kindergarten class, taught by Janet Phillips. She was a little shy about the attention, but was pleased, Huffman said. Perdue then took the opportunity to talk with the young students about their dreams and goals.

“He told them that when he was in high school, he wanted to be a college basketball player, but he had an injury and wasn’t able to do that,” Huffman said. “He went on to teach for a short time before becoming involved in state government.”

 

Perdue is the 24^th state treasurer. He was elected in 1996. In 2011, he also ran for governor of West Virginia.

 

Just yesterday, Perdue visited Lumberport Elementary to make another SMART 529 writing contest presentation. He said during his travels, he has enjoyed talking with students about what they hope to be someday. He has heard kids say they aspire to be everything from firemen and policemen to teachers and doctors.

 

“He told the kids that it’s ok to have a goal, but that it’s ok for those goals to change,” Huffman said.

 

As a state finalist, Payton is in the running for the SMART 529 writing contest grand prize of $5,000. Regardless, she and other finalists will be honored in Charleston this fall, Huffman said. 

 

The school received the information about the writing contest opportunity and distributed it to students earlier this school year. 

 

Editor's Note: Pictured top/cover standing left to right are teacher's aid Janet Wanstreet, teacher Janet Phillips, West Virginia State Treasurer John Perdue, Payton Tomes, JES Principal Vicki Huffman, Lauren and Matt Tomes.