CHET Dream Big Scholarship Competition
Scholarship Sponsored by Connecticut Higher Education Trust
Education helps shape a child’s future
Win a prize of up to $20,000 to be deposited into a CHET 529 account to support a student’s educational future.
How it works for 2025
Submit an original piece — an essay, a short video, or an artwork (painting, drawing, or illustration) — that responds to the prompt for your grade level.
Grade prompts
- K–4: When you grow up, what would you like to be and why?
- 5–8: Describe a time when something inspired you to do something good — for example, helping someone, making a change, or standing up for what’s right.
- 9–12: Share an experience or a person who has influenced you and explain how that influence will shape your future goals.
Entry requirements
- Artwork entries (drawing/painting/illustration) must include a caption of 50–100 words.
- Essay entries:
- K–4 group: 50–250 words.
- 5–8 and 9–12 groups: 100–250 words.
- Essays may be written in English or Spanish only.
- Video entries must run at least 30 seconds and no more than 60 seconds, and videos are accepted only via Online Entry.
- Digital images uploaded as part of an Online Entry must be in JPEG, PNG, or GIF format and must not exceed 10 MB.
- Video files uploaded as part of an Online Entry must be in one of these formats: MPEG, MP4, MOV, AVI, or M4V, and must not exceed 350 MB.
- Entries sent by U.S. mail must include a completed Mail‑In Entry Form and a physical (hard‑copy) version of the Original Work. Digital files are not allowed via mail.
- Each submission must be the Eligible Student’s Original Work. Use of AI tools or submitting a work that is a modification of someone else’s creation does not meet the “Original Work” requirement. Entries must not copy, derive from, or plagiarize any other source.
- Entries must not contain content that violates third‑party rights (including copyrights, trademarks, logos, trade dress, or privacy/publicity rights), nor may they include commercial or corporate advertising (such as brand names, logos, charity names, slogans), or political or religious statements. Publicly displayed Sponsor content/materials/products may appear in an entry.
- Entries may not depict or reference celebrities, athletes, musicians, or other third parties (public or private), or include anti‑social, political, or religious groups, nor may they contain commercial solicitations, advertising, personal solicitations, contact information (name, address, phone number, or URL), or promotional materials.
- Submissions must not disparage the Sponsor or any persons or organizations affiliated with the Sponsor.
Any Entry that fails to comply with the Entry Chart and the requirements above will be disqualified.