When a stranger called Jacqueline Wood this month to inform her that her granddaughter was a recipient of Manitoba’s COVID-19 vaccine scholarship lottery, she immediately hung up.
“I thought it was a prank call,” she said. “You know, one of those calls that you’ve won a trip to (the) Caribbean, so I just hung up on him and didn’t think much of it.”
A convincing followup call and two weeks later, Wood and her granddaughter Kayla Harper, from St. Theresa Point First Nation, flew to Winnipeg for a news conference.
On Aug. 23, Advanced Education Minister Wayne Ewasko presented lucky student winners with oversized “Vax to Win” cheques, each one representing a $25,000 scholarship, at the Manitoba legislature.
“We know the vaccine has brought hope to many of us. For these students and their families, the vaccine and this lottery have also shown them a path forward with new options and new opportunities for learning and a lifetime of success,” said Ewasko, before thanking the recipients for getting immunized to protect both themselves and others.
Seven of the 10 student recipients, all of whom are between the ages of 12 and 17, were in attendance Monday to celebrate their wins with wide eyes and likely smiles hidden behind masks.
Kaylee Keefe, Chelsea Thiessen, Bea Catalla, Kaden Rozdeba, Kayla Harper, Crosby Wright, Ella Curtaz, Jordyn Recksiedler, Emma Benoit and Shaira Garcia each won a scholarship that will be held in trust until they choose a post-secondary plan.
There was roughly a 0.01 per cent chance of winning one of the scholarships set aside for youth in Manitoba — had every eligible resident between the age of 12 and 17 received a first dose before Aug. 2.
Emma, a Grade 12 student, told reporters she chose to get vaccinated because of how difficult social isolation has been during the pandemic.
“I missed seeing my friends and I wanted to stay safe during all of these trying times. I’m a very big advocate for vaccines,” said the aspiring psychologist, who wants to enrol in a program at Red River College after she graduates in 2022.
Angel Recksiedler burst into tears when her daughter, Jordyn, received a symbolic cheque. The win came after months of pandemic-related challenges for both of the Grand Marais mother’s teenagers, who have experienced two interrupted school years.
“I’m very nervous and kind of scared about my future now, because I have so many options,” said Jordyn, who will enter Grade 9 at Walter Whyte School this fall.
The 13-year-old said she looks forward to catching up with friends and going to the movies with her family more, now that she is fully vaccinated.
Kayla of St. Theresa Point echoed similar comments after Monday’s news conference.
The 12-year-old spent much of the 2020-21 school year isolated from classmates, doing homework packages at her kitchen table rather than in a classroom because of COVID-19 restrictions.
While still in disbelief about the scholarship win, the middle schooler said she has already been thinking about post-secondary options in Winnipeg. Asked about what she wants to be when she grows up, Kayla said, “a teacher, just like my grandpa.” Her favourite subject is math.
Students who have received both doses of vaccine on or before Sept. 6 will be eligible for the next round of prizes.
As of Aug. 23, almost 69 per cent of Manitobans aged 12 to 17 have received a first dose of Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine. The percentage of the eligible youth population that has received a followup shot is 59 per cent.
