Northwest students received COVID-19 vaccinations during a clinic at the J.W. Jones Student Union earlier this month. Vaccines are available for free to all students and employees at the Wellness Center, and the University is offering several incentives to encourage vaccination. (Photo by Todd Weddle/Northwest Missouri State University)

Northwest Missouri State University has announced it is awarding an additional $60,000 to students – with incentives for student organizations, too – who are fully vaccinated for COVID-19 in hopes of encouraging more students to seek the vaccine and help the University community maintain a more traditional campus environment.

Fully vaccinated students have two additional chances to win prizes through drawings on Monday, Sept. 13, and Friday, Oct 1. The drawings will select 80 students to receive prizes that include $2,500 scholarships, parking passes, $100 Bearcat Bookstore gift cards and $50 in Campus Dining dollars. The final drawing will award one lucky student a $10,000 scholarship.

“We’ve already given away more than $13,000 in prizes, but we also know our vaccination rates are still not high enough to provide the level of personal and community protection needed to fight the COVID-19 Delta variant and whatever comes next,” Chris Dawe, Northwest’s assistant vice president of student affairs for health and well-being, said. “We’re in a race to get as many people vaccinated as possible before the variant impacts students’ health and ability to continue their learning experience uninterrupted at Northwest. We need to protect the kind of college experience we all want, and we’d love to beat this thing down so we can remove the masks and show each other our smiles again.” 

The enhanced vaccination incentive program also includes something for student organizations at Northwest. As part of the final drawing on Oct. 1, the University will award $2,000 to a Greek organization with the highest percentage of members providing a copy of their vaccine records to the Wellness Center.

Additionally, Northwest will award $1,500 to a large non-Greek student organization and $500 to a small non-Greek student organization.

“Think of the amazing activities that you could fund for your student organization,” Dawe said. “Spread the word and help make sure your organization is that one to receive the cash.”

How to enter the drawings

All eligible students who have submitted a copy of their vaccination record to Northwest’s Wellness Center remain in the drawings, and students can become eligible for future drawings simply by submitting their vaccine record.

Students must have completed a two-dose series of the COVID-19 vaccine, such as the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines, or a single-dose vaccine, such as the Johnson & Johnson vaccine. Any completed COVID-19 vaccine series approved by the World Health Organization is accepted.

Fully vaccinated students must then submit a copy of their COVID-19 vaccine record by emailing Wellness Services at health@nwmissouri.edu, faxing a copy to 660.562.1585 or providing a copy at the Wellness Center on campus.

How to get the vaccine

The Pfizer vaccine, which is now fully FDA-approved, and the Johnson & Johnson vaccine are available for free to all Northwest students and employees by calling Wellness Services at 660.562.1348.

Vaccines also are available by calling the Nodaway County Health Department at 660.562.2755, calling Mosaic Medical Center-Maryville at 660.562.2525, or by visiting www.vaccines.gov for other locations offering COVID-19 vaccines.

Prize drawing rules

The following rules also apply to Northwest’s drawings:

• Students must have submitted a copy of their COVID-19 vaccine record to the Wellness Center by 11:59 p.m. Sept. 13, 2021, and by 11:59 p.m. Oct. 1, 2021, to be eligible for each respective drawing.
• Eligible students include domestic and international, undergraduate and graduate students enrolled in at least one in-person class for the semester the award is received.
• Winners must be accepted/enrolled for the fall 2021 semester to qualify.
• Prizes are awarded for the 2021-2022 academic year only. Winning students may choose the fall or spring semester for the prize to be awarded.
• Prizes are non-renewable and not transferable. 
• Winners may be required to show additional proof of vaccination. 
• Students who accept a prize agree to allow their name and/or likeness to be used to publicly announce their prize status.
• Northwest employees and dependents of Northwest employees are not eligible for these prizes. 

COVID-19 mitigation measures remain in place

Due to the volatility of the Delta variant and low vaccination rates in the region, Northwest has temporarily reinstated its face covering requirement for all students, employees and visitors indoors, regardless of vaccination status. Face coverings may be removed only in indoor areas where 6 feet of social distance can be maintained, where a physical barrier is in place and in Campus Dining areas. 

Face coverings are required at all times – regardless of distance, physical barriers or vaccination status – in all classrooms and labs; the Wellness Center; Horace Mann Laboratory School and the Phyllis and Richard Leet Center for Children and Families, including its new infant and toddler care area; and Safe Ride vehicles, which are designated as public transportation.

For more information about Northwest’s response, visit the University's COVID-19 FAQs »