More winners of the ‘Get a Shot to Make Your Future’ sweepstakes announced

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David Shankbone | Wikimedia Commons

Jahlil Rush, Production Assistant

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced the next set of winners of the “Get a Shot to Make Your Future” incentive for a full scholarship to any CUNY or SUNY school of the winner’s choice. The scholarships will include enough funding to cover not only the student’s tuition fees but their room and board as well.

“The key to New York’s recovery, rebirth, and revitalization is getting as many eligible New Yorkers vaccinated as quickly as possible,” Gov. Cuomo said. “We’re working hard and getting creative to put shots in arms, and we’re targeting our efforts at groups of people with lower vaccination rates, especially young adults age 12-17, who have the lowest vaccination rate of any age group in the state.”

“Our once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to win a free ride to any public college or university in the state, an approximately $100,000 value, is proof that the vaccine won’t just make you safer — it very well might make your future, too,” Gov. Cuomo continued.

The second round of winners came from various counties of New York, including Westchester, Erie County and Nassau County. Three of the 10 winners came from New York City, specifically Brooklyn, Queens and Manhattan.

The Chancellors of both SUNY and CUNY schools released statements following the announcements.

“Incentivizing younger hesitant individuals to get vaccinated will help us return to more normalcy — and to that end we all win,” SUNY Chancellor Jim Malatras said. “My congratulations to today’s scholarships recipients and future SUNY college students. They will be getting a world class education that will put them on the path to prosperity.”

CUNY Chancellor Felix V. Matos Rodriguez echoed this congratulatory sentiment.

“As an increasing number of young New Yorkers receive the COVID-19 vaccine, we draw closer to achieving our goal of vanquishing the pandemic and accelerating the economic recovery of our State and City,” Rodriguez said.

“Education is integral to that resurgence, and there has never been a better time to attend a CUNY college, to begin building the skills and professional development necessary to join the region’s workforce. Congratulations to the most recent winners of the ‘Get a Shot to Make your Future’ drawing. They are doing their part to help speed the recovery, and we welcome them to CUNY.”

The first 10 winners of the incentive were announced in early June 2021. Winners from the first round came from counties such as Albany, Bronx Clinton, Monroe, Nassau, Onondaga, Ontario, Queens and Westchester.

Cuomo spoke about the first few rounds of winners, praising them for their achievements.

“Congratulations to them. They just won a full four-year scholarship, room and board, to any state college or university. That’s the SUNY system, that’s the CUNY system here,” Cuomo said. “This is about a $100,000 value.”

Cuomo announced that more than 45,000 New Yorkers in the age groups 12-17 have received their first shots after the state announced its free scholarships raffle.

The vaccination raffle will run through July 7. According to Cuomo, federal COVID-19 relief funds and outreach will cover the cost of the incentive program, NBC reports.