CARBONDALE (WSIL)---Getting the COVID shot can help protect SIU students from the virus, but also give them a shot at taking money off their bursar bill.
"If students turn in their vaccination cards, actually upload them, and submit proof of vaccination, they will get a $5 Starbucks gift card and then they're eligible for other prizes," said SIU's Chief Communications Officer Kim Rendfeld.
Those prizes include $50 to spend at the student center through the Debit Dawg Program, but the incentive most students are interested in is the opportunity to get a thousand dollar voucher off their bursar bill.
"College is expensive so if it was something that I was going to do anyway, I might as well get an extra bonus for it. I mean, it's money off your bursar bill. And I mean, really, unless you're paying out of pocket, there's no reason not to," said SIU junior Jacob Chruszczyk.
At the August 27th drawing, up to 100 students will be selected to receive money towards the bookstore, 50 will receive debit dawg dollars, and 50 will be selected for the bursar bill voucher.
So far, roughly 2300 students have signed up.
"Vaccines are the best strategy to protect health, along with wearing masks, and we want to encourage students to protect their own health," said Rendfeld.
If you can't get fully vaccinated before next Friday's drawing, there will be two more drawings during the fall semester.
