Ten preteens from around New York have won the first round of state college scholarships for 5-to-11-year-olds who get vaccinated against COVID-19, Gov. Kathy Hochul announced Saturday.
The youths' names were drawn by lottery after their parents or guardians entered them in the “Vaccinate, Educate, Graduate” contest. It's open to children 5 to 11 who get their first vaccine dose by Dec. 19. Weekly drawings will continue through Dec. 20.
Winners get tuition, room and board for an associate's or bachelor's degree program at a New York State or New York City public university, plus money for books and supplies.
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Hochul's office released video of the Democrat phoning some winners as young as 6. Their full names weren't given.
New York offered a similar scholarship raffle for vaccinated 12-to-17-year-oldslast spring and summer.
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States around the country have tried various giveawaysto induce people to get inoculated.