New York Democrat Governor Kathy Hochul, eager to vaccinate children ages 5-11 with a COVID-19 vaccine, is offering the chance for a four-year, full-ride scholarship to two-year or four-year New York State public colleges or universities to any child who has received the first dose of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine.
Hochul’s office released this statement:
The ‘Vaccinate, Educate, Graduate’ Vaccine Incentive Scholarship is a five-week public outreach campaign, running through December 19, 2021, and consisting of a series of statewide drawings to increase awareness of the availability and efficacy of COVID-19 vaccines and provide incentives to New Yorkers 5-11 years of age to get a COVID-19 vaccine.
Parents or legal guardians of any New Yorker who is 5 to 11 years of age and who has received at least their first dose of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine, may enter their child for a chance to win one of 50, four-year, full-ride scholarships (including tuition, fees, room-and-board, and expenses) to any two-year or four-year New York State public college or university.
The website adds: “Enter your vaccinated 5-11-year-old for a chance to win a full scholarship to any New York public college or university. Entries must be received by December 19, 2021, 2021 at 11:59:59 p.m. EDT to be eligible for at least one drawing. … Ten winners will be announced weekly beginning Wednesday, November 24, 2021 for five consecutive weeks. A total of 50 prize winners will be selected.”
The scholarship will include the full cost of in-state tuition at a New York State or City University; room and board and allowances for books, supplies and transportation up to the average cost at SUNY colleges, and for students living on campus, a higher room and board allowance than commuter students. If housing is not available for students on campus, they will receive the same allowance as students living on campus.
“Finally, the COVID-19 vaccine is here for young New Yorkers age 5 through 11.” Hochul stated Our critical work to make the vaccine accessible and available to all eligible children and their families is underway — and we will creatively support and celebrate those who get vaccinated. The ‘Vaccinate, Educate, Graduate’ program is an extraordinary opportunity for children to win free tuition to a SUNY or CUNY college or university, and I urge parents and guardians to help their children get vaccinated and enter into this once-in-a-lifetime program.”
CUNY Chancellor Félix V. Matos Rodríguez added, “Expanding vaccine eligibility to children as young as 5 years old gives us even greater confidence that we will effectively subdue COVID-19 and put the conditions in place for New York’s full economic recovery. The ‘Vaccinate, Educate, Graduate’ program will further incentivize parents and guardians to get their children protected, and we strongly encourage them to do so. We thank Governor Hochul for encouraging more New Yorkers to get vaccinated and for leveraging CUNY’s strong reputation to help lead the State’s resurgence.”
In late September, Hochul told a Sunday mass at a Christian Cultural Center service, “Yes, I know you’re vaccinated, you’re the smart ones, but you know, there are people out there who aren’t listening to God and what God wants. You know, this, you know who they are.”