Vaccination Prize Drawing

To promote the health and safety of the Ohio State community, the university awarded $50,000 in prizes to vaccinated students, faculty and staff. Throughout August, the university conducted weekly drawings for prizes like gift cards, football season tickets and annual parking permits. 

 

Drawing Winners

 Week Four

Grand Prize Winners

  • Zach Coates, a clinical assistant professor of optometry
  • Jesse Nathanson, a security and intelligence major
  • Becca Persons, a graduate student pursing master’s degrees in social work and public administration and leadership
  • Jason Shaw, security educator in the Wexner Medical Center security division

In addition to the grand prizes each week, two winners won $1,000 gift cards, four won $500 gift cards, eight won $250 gift cards and 20 won $100 gift cards.

This week is the final week of the vaccine prize drawing. In all, more than 150 students, faculty and staff members who had been vaccinated won more than $50,000 in prizes.

Read more in the Ohio State News story.

Week Three

Grand Prize Winners 

  • Zane Altizer, a service desk technician
  • Khushi Garg, a civil engineering major
  • Noah Hanft, a materials science and engineering major
  • Canada Keck, a senior research associate at CHRR

In addition to the grand prizes, two winners won 1,000 gift cards, four won $500 gift cards, eight won $250 gift cards and 20 winners won $100 gift cards this week.

Read more in the Ohio State News story.

Week Two 

Grand Prize Winners 

  • Andrew Cohen, a third-year molecular genetics major
  • Grace Hill, a third-year social work major
  • Maria Festing, a research associate in Ohio State’s Comprehensive Cancer Center
  • Kristen Schoeff, an office administrative associate in the College of Dentistry

In addition to the grand prizes, two winners won 1,000 gift cards, four won $500 gift cards, eight won $250 gift cards and 20 winners won $100 gift cards this week.

Read more in the Ohio State News story

Week One

Grand Prize Winners

  • Case Barton, a second-year agribusiness major
  • Matthew Doyle, a first-year student in the doctor of veterinary medicine program
  • Angela Barnes, a program coordinator with the Department of Patient Education at the Wexner Medical Center
  • Nick Ramser, assistant director of information technology at the Center for Human Resource Research

In addition to the grand prizes, two winners won 1,000 gift cards, four won $500 gift cards, eight won $250 gift cards and 20 winners won $100 gift cards this week.

Read more in this Ohio State News story.

 

Details

Prizes 

The winners of the drawings will be randomly selected from among all eligible entries received. The following prizes will be distributed weekly: 

  • Weekly cash/gift card prizes: Two (2) $1,000 gift cards; four (4) $500 gift cards; eight (8) $250 gift cards; and twenty (20) $100 gift cards. 

  • Weekly grand prize: Four (4) options of ‘A’ parking pass on the Columbus campus or pair of season tickets to Ohio State University football home games. 

One entry per person. Subject to verification of eligibility and compliance with these official rules, the potential winners drawn and verified will be declared the official winners of the drawings. 

Deadlines 

  • Individuals enter the vaccination prize drawing program by 11:59:59 p.m. EDT on the Sunday before a drawing to be eligible for that week’s drawing. Only one entry is needed per person – once entered, an individual will be eligible for all subsequent drawings. 

  • Prize winners will be announced each Thursday from Aug. 12 through Sept. 2. 

Eligibility 

Students, faculty and staff on all Ohio State campuses may participate if they meet the following conditions: 

  • Have received all recommended doses of their COVID-19 vaccine (the second shot for a two-dose vaccine, or one shot for the single-dose vaccine). 

  • Have reported their vaccination information. Vaccinated students should report their status through My BuckMD. Vaccinated faculty and staff should report their status through the Employee Vaccination form. (Even if you were vaccinated through the Wexner Medical Center, faculty and staff must report through this process to be eligible for prizes.) 

  • Students must be enrolled at the university for autumn 2021 

Full eligibility requirements are available in the official rules. 

Frequently Asked Questions

What can I win?

  • Weekly cash/gift card prizes: Two (2) $1,000 gift cards; four (4) $500 gift cards; eight (8) $250 gift cards; and twenty (20) $100 gift cards.
  • Weekly grand prize: Four (4) options of ‘A’ parking pass on the Columbus campus or pair of season tickets to Ohio State University football home games.

What is the deadline to enter?

The drawings will be conducted weekly, for four weeks, beginning on Aug. 8, 2021. There will be one drawing each week, and anyone who enters by 11:59:59 p.m. EST on the Sunday before each week’s drawing will be eligible. Once you have entered the vaccination prize drawing program, you are eligible for all future drawings.   

Entry Due Date

Announcement Date

Aug. 8, 2021 at 11:59:59 p.m. EDT

Aug. 12, 2021 at ~11:00 a.m. EDT

Aug. 15, 2021 at 11:59:59 p.m. EDT

Aug. 19, 2021 at ~11:00 a.m. EDT

Aug. 22, 2021 at 11:59:59 p.m. EDT

Aug. 26, 2021 at ~11:00 a.m. EDT

Aug. 29, 2021 at 11:59:59 p.m. EDT

Sept. 2, 2021 at ~11:00 a.m. EDT

Do I need to enter more than once to be eligible for each drawing?

No. One entry is enough. Once you have submitted the vaccination prize drawing entry form and fulfilled the other eligibility criteria, you will be entered into all future drawings.

Where can I be vaccinated?

See the COVID-19 vaccine information page for details about vaccination locations, including Jesse Owens North Recreation Center and same-day care clinics operated through the Wexner Medical Center.

The State of Ohio has a tool to help people schedule appointments at thousands of other sites throughout the state.

How do I share my information with the university?

  • Vaccinated students should report their status through My BuckMD to be eligible for prizes.
  • Vaccinated faculty and staff must report their status through the Employee Vaccination form to be eligible. Even if you were vaccinated through the Wexner Medical Center, you must report through this process.

Do I need to be fully vaccinated to qualify?

Students, faculty, and staff must have received all recommended doses of their COVID-19 vaccine (the second shot for a two-dose vaccine, or one shot for the single-dose vaccine) to be eligible for each drawing.

You are not required to have completed the 14-day period after the final dose to qualify.

Will these prizes be taxed?

Winners will be responsible for any taxes associated with their prize. Federal, state and local taxes are the sole responsibility of the applicable official winners. All winnings will be reported to the official winners and the IRS, as required by law. All federal, state and local laws, applicable taxes, and regulations apply. A student may not receive financial aid and other resources in excess of the annual cost of attendance at the university. Student Financial Aid will work with student winners to maximize the amount they can accept based on their cost of attendance and other factors.

How can I enter if I don’t have access to a computer?

Students who do not have access to the internet may contact Buckeye Link (614-292-0300) for assistance entering the vaccination prize drawing program. Buckeye Link is open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Fridays. Employees who do not have access to the internet may contact HR Connection (614-247-6947) for assistance entering the vaccination prize drawing program. HR Connection is open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. 

 


Please reference this website for the most up-to-date guidelines. The university’s COVID-19 Transition Task Force’s Safe Campus and Scientific Advisory Subgroup will continue monitoring changing conditions and consult with local and state health authorities. Recommendations and requirements will be refined as needed.