Today, Governor Kate Brown announced the five $100,000 scholarship winners of the Take Your Shot, Oregon campaign. Oregonians ages 12 to 17 who had received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine were eligible for the drawing.
“I’m incredibly grateful for our scholarship winners, and all the young Oregonians who took their shot to get vaccinated and protect themselves and their families from COVID-19,” said Governor Brown in the July 15 press release. “If you have been waiting to get vaccinated and still have questions, call your family doctor or health care provider and get your questions answered today.”
The five winners are from Damascus, Portland, Grants Pass and Tigard.
Laney, one of the scholarship winners from Grants Pass, said she got the vaccine for a couple of reasons:
“I got the vaccines to be better protected against COVID because I’m exposed by my parents who work in health care and I also want to help prevent spread in my community.”
Asked if the incentive drawing had anything to do with her decision to get the vaccine, Laney said, “I would have gotten the vaccines regardless. I talked to my mom about the scholarship right after I got my second shot. We talked about what an amazing opportunity that would be for someone, but I never thought I would win.”
In addition to their $100,000 scholarships, all five winners will also be invited to meet with Governor Brown and State Treasurer Tobias Read later this summer at the state Capitol.
Governor Brown first announced the Take Your Shot, Oregon campaign on May 21 in order to encourage Oregonians to get vaccinated against COVID-19. Last week, Governor Brown announced the winner of the $1 million prize for the campaign, which went to Oregon State University student Chloe Zinda. You can read more about her story here.
To learn more about the scholarships and the winners, read the news release.