EMU Today

Ypsilanti, MI — In an effort to control community spread of COVID-19, Eastern Michigan University recently rolled out its “Get the VAX to WIN” program to encourage students, staff and faculty to get vaccinated for the opportunity to win prizes.

This is one of five opportunities students, staff and faculty will have to receive one of 150 prizes ranging from $5,000 and $1,000 credits on student accounts, free room and board, free parking, $100 bookstore gift cards, or $500 payments.

The University is pleased to announce its first set of winners.

Student winners:

    $5,000 credit - Jaylen Reames of Livonia, Mich., studying computer engineering technology

    $1,000 credit - Yumna Alam of Canton, Mich., studying social work intent

    $1,000 credit - Maximilian Sebastian Patel of Copenhagen, Denmark, studying dance

    $1,000 credit - Daniela Rodrigues of Ypsilanti, Mich., studying exercise science

    $1,000 credit - Nina Scarpelli of Westland, Mich., studying public relations

    New computer - DeAngelena Terrell of Ypsilanti, Mich., studying public health

    Free housing for fall semester - Cromwell Bost of Detroit, Mich., studying computer science - 

    applied  

    Free parking for winter semester - Chloe Desselles of Plymouth, Mich., studying for an MBA

    $100 Bookstore gift card - Lindsey Kowalski of Milan, Ohio, studying biology

    $100 Bookstore gift card - Samuel Sidorowicz of Sterling Heights, Mich., studying instrumental        

       music education

    $100 Bookstore gift card - Lacey Weaver of Reading, Mich., studying K-12 visual arts education

    $100 Dining credit - K. Clarke of Kingston, JA, studying for an MBA in finance

    $100 Dining credit - Ryan Denniston of Milford, Mich., studying secondary special education 

    $100 Dining credit - Lauren Eicher of Chelsea, Mich., studying physics 

University leadership has received a great response for the “VAX to WIN” program from students. For student winners and Ypsilanti residents Daniela Rodrigues and DeAngelena Terrell, they said it was important for them to get vaccinated to protect themselves and others.

“I feel incredibly blessed to have won and I encourage other students to enter the contest,” said Rodrigues.“I figured it (Vaccination Certification System) was easy to fill out and it couldn't hurt to try and it ended up working out for me. I plan to use the credit towards next semester's tuition, which will help me and my family financially.”

“I am still in shock that I won something,” said Terrell.“I got vaccinated because I wanted to protect my high risk children. It (Vaccination Certification System) was super easy to fill out; it probably only took me two to three minutes,” she added.

Terrell said the computer she won will provide the extra storage she needs for hery graduate papers.

The COVID-19 vaccine is safe, effective, and free. The University urges every member of the campus community to be vaccinated unless the student and/or employee has medical reasons or a sincerely-held religion. 

Future drawings, in which students and employees can win similar prizes, take place during the weeks of:

• Sept. 13, 2021

• Sept. 20, 2021

• Sept. 27, 2021

• Oct. 11, 2021

On each of these dates, a proportional number of winners of each prize will be selected. For example, one eligible student will be selected to win a $5,000 credit to their student account on each of the five drawing dates, for a total of five winners of that prize.

Eastern has developed the EMU Safe program website  to address COVID-19 and keep the campus community safe.In addition to the many public opportunities available to receive a COVID-19 vaccine, EMU will also host pop-up clinics on Sept. 18 and 24. 

About Eastern Michigan University

Founded in 1849, Eastern is the second oldest public university in Michigan. It currently serves more than 16,000 students pursuing undergraduate, graduate, specialist, doctoral and certificate degrees in the arts, sciences and professions. In all, more than 300 majors, minors and concentrations are delivered through the University's Colleges of Arts and Sciences; Business; Education; Engineering and Technology; Health and Human Services; and, its graduate school. EMU is regularly recognized by national publications for its excellence, diversity, and commitment to applied education. For more information about Eastern Michigan University, visit the University's website.