Connecticut students in kindergarten through 12th grade have until 11:59 p.m. Eastern on Nov. 6 to enter the state's CHET Dream Big competition.
The program accepts essays, videos and artwork responding to questions about students' dreams or how they can help their communities. It is open to Connecticut residents attending public, private, parochial, charter or home-based schools in the state, Treasurer Erick Russell's office said in an Oct. 26 reminder.
A parent or legal guardian submits the entry for the child. The competition's own eligibility notice requires the adult to be at least 18, a legal U.S. resident living in Connecticut, and the parent or guardian of a student enrolled in a Connecticut K-12 school as of Aug. 19, 2026.
Student prizes are contributions to Connecticut Higher Education Trust college-savings accounts, rather than unrestricted cash. Three students will receive $20,000 each, 24 will receive $5,000 each and 240 will receive $500 each.
Those student awards total $300,000. A separate drawing offers ten $5,000 technology prizes for schools, bringing the combined student-and-school prize value to $350,000. A Connecticut school becomes eligible for the drawing when at least one of its students enters.
CHET is the state's 529 education-savings plan, a type of account used to set aside money for qualifying education expenses. No purchase is necessary to enter or win the competition.
Families should review the age-specific prompts, entry instructions and official rules at the competition website. The treasurer's announcement lists the deadline and prize structure.