GRAFTON & PADEN CITY, WV – Gov. Jim Justice traveled to two of the highest-vaccinated high schools across the state today, presenting students and staff at Grafton High School in Taylor County and Paden City High School in Wetzel County each with a check for $50,000 as winners in the West Virginia Department of Education’s I Got Vaxxed Competition.
Gov. Justice was joined by his pet English Bulldog, Babydog, for today’s award ceremonies.
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For Gov. Justice’s first stop of the day, he and Babydog traveled to greet students and faculty at Grafton High School and announce their school had won one of the $50,000 prizes.
Grafton High School plans to use their winnings to take their students on a trip to experience cultural opportunities not available in our area. Potential examples include Washington, D.C., with a visit to the inner Harbor in Baltimore, or Pittsburgh to attend a play and have dinner in restaurants that offer cuisines not available locally.
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While at Grafton High School, Gov. Justice also recognized GHS student Caleb Stewart, who recently won a full-ride college scholarship, valued at $100,000, through the "Do it for Babydog" vaccination sweepstakes.
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Next, the Governor and Babydog made their way to visit students and faculty at Paden City High School, announcing that their school had also won one of the $50,000 prizes.
Paden City High School plans to use their winnings to fund many exciting school-community opportunities like school dances, a family fun carnival, as well as needed learning expansions.
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Administrators presented Gov. Justice and Babydog with custom t-shirts, designed by PCHS students, which read "Paden City High School Did it for Babydog." Many students wore the same shirt to Friday's ceremony.
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The I Got Vaxxed Competition was announced by Gov. Justice and the WVDE to encourage eligible school-aged children, faculty, and staff to get a COVID-19 vaccine. Through the competition, a total of 12 public and private schools – four elementary schools, four middle schools, and four high schools – with the largest percentage of eligible vaccinated staff and students each won $50,000 to use for activities or initiatives which will improve the student experience. To encourage full participation, students were polled to have input on how they would like the funds to be used.
After the WVDE initially launched the program offering prizes of $25,000 for winning schools, Gov. Justice supplemented the competition’s funding, increasing the prize award to $50,000 to further incentivize school communities to participate.
A total of 77 public and private schools entered the competition, and all submitted vaccination data was verified by the West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources to identify the winners. At least one winning school in each category was a private school.
Full list of winning schools:
- Nov. 9 ceremonies
- Andrew Jackson Middle School
- Elkview Middle School
- Geary Elementary & Middle School
- Morgantown Learning Academy
- Nov. 15 ceremonies
- Mountaineer Montessori
- Charleston Catholic High School
- Nov. 16 ceremony
- Nov. 17 ceremonies
- Pratt Elementary School
- Hurricane High School
- Hite Saunders Elementary School
- Today's ceremonies
- Grafton High School
- Paden City High School
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