Money Smart Kids Essay Contest Deadline is April 17th at 5 pm!

The annual Money Smart Kids Essay Contest is a creative opportunity for young students to increase their financial awareness, as well as develop and apply their money management skills! All sixth-through eighth-grade students in the St. Louis metropolitan area are encouraged to submit an essay of 500 words or less answering the annual contest question. The 2023 contest is now live! The contest question is :What are three steps you can take during your teenage years to kickstart your financial future? Winners for the contest will receive the following awards: 1st place wins $2,000, 2nd place wins $1,000, & 3rd place wins $500!

Download Kids Essay Contest Application Here

2022 Winners:

Three winners were selected by a panel of volunteer judges to receive scholarships of $2,000, $1,000, and $500.

First Place Winner: 
DeJuan Strickland – 7th grader
All Saints Academy – St. Rose Philippine Duchesne Catholic School
Florissant, MO

Second Place Winner:
Mekhi Roundtree – 8th grader
Parkway Northeast Middle School
St. Louis, MO

Third Place Winner:
Olivia Thornton – 8th grader
All Saints Academy – St. Rose Philippine Duchesne Catholic School
Black Jack, MO

In addition, essay contest winners were able to identify nonprofit agencies to receive a donation on behalf of the students. Additional winners include: Young Biz Kids and Parkway Northeast Middle School.

2021 Winners:

Three winners were selected by a panel of volunteer judges to receive scholarships of $2,000, $1,000, and $500. Though we were not able to present the awards in person this year, we are happy to congratulate them here!

First Place Winner: 
Norriah Holder – 6th grader
LaSalle Springs Middle School
St. Louis, MO

Second Place Winner:
Sivani Vasireddy – 8th grader
Fort Zumwalt South Middle School
St. Peters, MO

Third Place Winner:
Shravanya Shrinivas – 6th grader
Lakeview Elementary
Lake St. Louis, MO

In addition, essay contest winners were able to identify nonprofit agencies to receive a donation on behalf of the students. Additional winners include: Sistakeeper Empowerment Center, Central Institute for the Deaf and Lakeview Elementary.