March 28, 2024

SWCC to offer chance at $5,000 scholarship for vaccinations

Southwestern Community College will offer Aug. 21 —22 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. and Aug. 25 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. a vaccination drive for students to receive a dose of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine.

The drive aims to incentivize vaccination by offering a drawing in which the winner will receive a $5,000 scholarship.

SWCC Dean of Student Services Kim Bishop said they expected the pandemic to continue past the summer break and sought to find how they could prevent the spread of COVID-19.

“We started conversations throughout the summer as we were kind of just monitoring COVID, looking at where we’re at and brainstorming strategies to help do our part to slow the spread and prevent the spread of COVID-19 as much as we could,” Bishop said. “So I would say in July we really finalize our plan that we would host a vaccination clinic during move-in weekend, we thought that was a great time to catch a lot of students and then on the first day of school as well.”

While Iowa State University will be offering vaccination sites through September, SWCC still only has three days scheduled for their drive.

“As of right now we just have our three dates set which is August 23rd, 22nd and 25th.”

However, SWCC will be using big incentives that other schools aren’t offering.

“So far I have had students inquire so I’m hoping it will be a successful drive and to encourage participation, we are offering different incentives through a drawing if they can prove they have been vaccinated at those dates or if they have been previously vaccinated, their names will be put into a drawing for a grand prize of a $5,000 scholarship or to win one of four $500 gift cards, like Visa gift cards, and then a third place drawing will be had for two $100 SWCC Shoppe gift cards,” Bishop said.

Bishop also said this vaccination drive is walk-in only so no one can schedule appointments.

“We are not taking schedule-ahead appointments, it’s going to be on a walk-in basis, but I have already had over 30 students submit documentation for prior vaccinations, so that word is getting out so they are already—as I’ve said—submitting that documentation so there is interest there and I think that’s going to grow the more students realize there are incentives involved,” she said.