One student from each of Des Moines Area Community College’s (DMACC’s) six campuses has received a $1,000 cash prize for showing proof of COVID-19 vaccinations. To encourage the DMACC community to get vaccinated against the coronavirus, DMACC announced the fall incentive for students. “This incentive to get vaccinated was launched to help protect our students from contracting COVID and will have the added benefit of making our campuses and classrooms safer environments,” says DMACC President, Rob Denson. “This drawing served as a motivation for students to do the right thing and get vaccinated, he adds. It is currently estimated that 75 percent of faculty and staff are fully or partially vaccinated. The vaccination status of students and the percentages are not known. Any DMACC student enrolled in at least one credit course during the fall semester, who was fully vaccinated by Sept. 30 and could show valid proof of vaccination was entered into the contest. The winners were randomly drawn from the more than 2,000 entries and the awards are being funded through the American Rescue Plan’s Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund. From the Carroll campus, the winner is Paige Wollesen. Other winners include: Hannah Mueller from the Ankeny campus; Bailey Donahoe from the Boone campus; Delaney Dalton from Newton; Gabrielle Bearden from the Urban campus; and Ashley Carter from West Des Moines. DMACC is not requiring vaccinations, but strongly recommending them.
