Ohio’s first Vax-a-Millionaire: ‘I’d encourage everyone to get the vaccine’

COLUMBUS — In her first media appearance since becoming Ohio's first Vax-a-Millionaire, 22-year-old Abbigail Bugenske said, "It feels like this is happening to a different person."

While the lottery scheme was devised to encourage Ohioans to get vaccinated, Bugenske said she got her shot the first week she was eligible — well before the contest was announced.

"Vaccines have always been in my medical history," she said. "It was a pretty easy decision."

When asked if she'll push her peers to do the same, Bugenske said, "I'd encourage anyone to get the vaccine. If winning a million dollars isn't incentive enough, I don't know what really would be."

Joseph Costello, the 14-year-old from Dayton who won the scholarship drawing, said the opposite

"Probably not," he replied. "I think they can make the decision for themselves."

Joseph's mom Colleen Costello said she planned to get her kids the shot, but hearing about the contest pushed up the timeline.

Joseph got vaccinated Saturday, just before the contest's first registration deadline.

"We've been thrilled about the availability of the vaccine," she said. "The experience for [my] kids was a good one. They didn't have any side effects."

Creating a sense of urgency around getting vaccinated was his goal, Gov. Mike DeWine said Thursday.

He came up with the idea when visiting vaccination sites around the state. DeWine spoke with Ohioans who said they planned the get the shot but hadn't yet pulled the trigger.

"The faster we can get people vaccinated, the better it is," DeWine said. "Not only won't they get (COVID-19), but they're not going to spread it."

About the contest, he said, "I thought we needed to create some excitement."

Based on his demeanor Thursday morning, DeWine enjoyed playing Ed McMahon for the day. He got to deliver the good news to both winners, and he and his wife Fran even visited the Costello family home in Dayton Wednesday night.

"It was a fun night for us," he said.

Bugenske was driving from Cincinnati to her parents' house in Cleveland to look at a used car when DeWine called her with the news..

"I still can't believe it," she said. "I had to make sure it wasn't a prank."

The Michigan State graduate is now getting her master's degree in aerospace engineering and works at General Electric Aviation. She still plans to buy a used car and said she'll donate some of her winnings.

"I'm probably going to invest most of it," she said.

Joseph Costello was informed he won the scholarship contest by DeWine's staffers in his driveway.

His mom was informed first by phone.

"My first reaction was, I thought maybe it was a taped message," Colleen said. "I was thankful there was a bench nearby. I needed to sit down."

This story was originally published May 28, 2021 at 3:52 AM with the headline "Ohio’s first Vax-a-Millionaire: ‘I’d encourage everyone to get the vaccine’."