COLUMBUS, Ohio — The state of Ohio has announced the first 30 winners of $10,000 scholarships as part of the state’s Vax-2-School scholarship program.
The program was created in order to promote COVID-19 vaccinations among children and young adults.
The 30 winners were chosen among Ohioans ages 5-25 who have received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine and registered with the state. The state will announce 30 additional winners every day through Friday. The state of Ohio will also hold a grand prize drawing Friday for five $100,000 scholarships.
Here are the winners announced Monday:
- Midori Ayres, Fremont
- Frank Brown, Toledo
- Drake Bryan, Novelty
- Madison Cooke, Maineville
- Paige Delmore, Seven Hills
- Lola DeWitte, Perrysburg
- Lucinda Freund, Wadsworth
- Grant Fry, Doylestown
- Alice Jonas, Worthington
- Livia Kish, Akron
- Renee Kizlik, Eastlake
- Lydia Krausz, New Albany
- Lessah Lemaster, Enon
- Benjamin Lichman, Rocky River
- Andrea Ligon, Shaker Heights
- Mitchell Link, Jamestown
- Alena McCain, West Chester
- Spencer Meier, Cincinnati
- Claire Miller, Cincinnati
- Rachel Mohr, Dublin
- Martin Philip, West Chester
- Victoria Rahija, Mentor
- Donovan Simpson, Columbus
- Madeline Sines, Milford Center
- Sydney Stacho, Medina
- Emily Studer, Aurora
- Spencer Sullivan, Ostrander
- Alex Vargo, Rossford
- Katrina Whitmore, West Chester
- Makenna Wolf, Fremont
Those who have not registered yet will not be eligible for the 150 $10,000 scholarships, but will be eligible for the five $100.000 grand prizes. The final deadline to enter the Vax-2-School grand prize drawing is Wednesday.
So far, the vast majority of eligible children in Ohio are not vaccinated against COVID-19.
According to state of Ohio data as of Monday, 13.4 percent of those ages 5-11 have gotten a COVID-19 shot. Children ages 5-11 could begin getting a COVID-19 vaccine on Nov. 2.
Of Ohioans ages 12-17, 44.6 percent have gotten at least one COVID-19 shot with 40.3 being considered fully vaccinated. Children ages 12-17 could begin getting vaccinated back in May.
“Although children are less likely than adults to get severely ill from COVID-19, they become sick – even seriously ill, and can suffer lasting complications from the virus, or even death,” the Ohio Department of Health said in a statement Saturday, noting that 17 Ohio children have died from COVID-19 complications.
The state says that once someone eligible for the drawing gets their first shot, they can enter online at www.ohiovax2school.com or by phone at 1-833-4-ASK-ODH (1-833-427-5634). Those who previously entered the drawing do not need to reenter.
