Ohio’s first Vax-a-Million drawing winners announced

COLUMBUS (WCMH) – Ohio’s first Vax-a-Million drawing winners have been announced.

Abbigail Bugenske from Silverton in Hamilton County won the first $1 million prize. Joseph Costello from Englewood in Montgomery County won the first student full-ride scholarship including four years tuition, books, and room and board at an Ohio public university or college.

According to Fox 8 in Cleveland, Abbigail Bugenske is a graduate of Shaker Heights High School, her mother Lisa Bugenske confirmed. Abbigail currently is working as an engineer in Southern Ohio.

The family is overwhelmed with the winning announcement, Lisa said. Abbigail had reportedly gotten the vaccine before the drawing was announced and her family wants to get the word out about the importance of vaccinations. At this time, Abbigail is not speaking with reporters.

Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine posted a photo of himself with Joseph Costello and his family after the drawing Wednesday, congratulating Costello on being selected.

Congrats, Joseph! You just won a full-ride college scholarship! If you’re between 12 and 17 years-old and had at least one dose of the vaccine, you could be next! Sign up at https://t.co/ZmJ8iKoSlV! pic.twitter.com/StHlWewhW5
— Mike DeWine (@MikeDeWine) May 27, 2021

The state estimated earlier this week that approximately 2.7 million Ohioans have registered for the drawing. Those registrations will roll over into drawings set for the next four weeks.

Names are drawn on the Monday following the Sunday entry deadline. According to the state’s lottery commission, it draws a winner and up to 100 alternates using a random number generator. Those names are then turned over to the Ohio Department of Health to verify their vaccination status. Should the first name not meet the required standards, the next name on the list is checked, and so on until a winner is verified.

The next scheduled drawings for the Vax-A-Million prizes are:

Entry deadline	Drawing date	Announcement date
May 30, 11:59:59 p.m.	May 31	June 2, 7:29 p.m.
June 6, 11:59:59 p.m.	June 7	June 9, 7:29 p.m.
June 13, 11:59:59 p.m.	June 14	June 16, 7:29 p.m.
June 20, 11:59:59 p.m.	June 21	June 23, 7:29 p.m.

All Ohio residents who have had at least one Pfizer, Moderna, or Johnson & Johnson shot are urged to register at Ohiovaxamillion.com or by calling 1-833-4-ASK-ODH (1-833-427-5634).