CLEVELAND — The state of Ohio announced the third Vax-a-Million winners in its COVID vaccine lottery on Wednesday night.
The newest $1 million winner (drawing for those 18 and older) is Mark Cline of Richwood in Union County.
Sheffield Lake's Sara Afaneh is the newest recipient of a full-ride college scholarship (drawing for those ages 12-17). She is a seventh grader at Brookside Middle School, and district Superintendent Michael Cook said he "literally cheered out loud" when he saw her name on the screen.
"We are thrilled for Sara and her family!" Cook told 3News in a statement. "She sincerely is a fantastic young lady and has an amazing family as well! I could not be happier for them."
Wednesday's winners were selected in the drawing conducted by the Ohio Lottery and overseen by the Ohio Auditor of State on Monday, June 7, 2021.
“There are only two more drawings left, so I urge Ohioans to get the shot and then enter for a shot to win a million dollars or, for those aged 12-17 a chance to a four-year, full-ride scholarship including room, board, tuition and books at an Ohio public college or university,” said Governor Mike DeWine in a statement.
According to the state, 3,362,203 Ohioans were entered in the drawing to win the $1 million prize, and 143,604 Ohioans age 12 to 17 were entered to the drawing for a college scholarship.
The number of entries in both groups increased from the previous week with 136,414 additional adult entries and 10,701 additional student entries.
The state’s Vax-a-Million contest continues weekly now through June 23. You can enter to win HERE.
Here's how the drawing works: Each person who enters is assigned a unique number. A computer then randomly picks one of those numbers approximately 48 hours before the winning name is announced. The reason the drawing isn't held live is so state officials have time to verify the winner's information -- including proof of vaccination -- before revealing the results.
To be eligible, you must have received at least one dose of a COVID vaccine. If you've already entered the contest, there's no need to enter again. Your single entry is valid for the two remaining drawings with the upcoming winners to be revealed at 7:29 p.m. on the following Wednesday nights:
- June 16 (deadline to enter is Sunday, June 13 at 11:59 p.m.)
- June 23 (deadline to enter is Sunday, June 20 at 11:59 p.m.)
Gov. DeWine launched the Vax-a-Million COVID vaccine lottery last month as a way to give Ohioans an incentive for vaccinations.