Two Northern Kentucky teenagers — an Owenton boy with football dreams and a Ft. Michell boy hoping for a normal school year with friends — won college scholarships Friday in Kentucky’s second “Shot at a Million” lottery.

The lottery, which is only enterable by Kentuckians vaccinated against COVID-19, awarded five scholarships to teenagers and one $1 million jackpot to Ginger Schultz, a Louisville woman who got the shot for her 85-year-old mother’s sake.

The scholarship winners were:

• Shelby Anderson of Louisville
• Isabella Brozak of Crestwood
• T.J. Ponder of Owenton
• Reese Johnson of Harrodsburg
• Julian Sandberg of Ft. Mitchell

“When I got the vaccine, I did it because I just wanted my life to be normal again and I wanted to see my friends,” 14-year-old Sandberg said at a news conference announcing the winners.

His father, Kal Steinberg, said that getting a scholarship for Julian’s college costs relieved “an incredible burden” on their family.

Julian’s mother, Maria Sanders, said in a statement: “We can't believe our good fortune. I hope folks realize that scientists blessed us all with a miracle, and by saying yes to the vaccine, we move our state and country forward.”

T.J. Ponder of Owenton said he got the shot so he would be able to play football during the upcoming school year.

“Winning the scholarship means a lot to me because my mom is a single mom and it will help us out a lot so I can go to college or a trade school,” he said in a statement.

At Gov. Andy Beshear’s news conference announcing the winners, Ponder was even more direct: “I just want to say, everybody get vaccinated.”

One more “Shot at a Million” drawing remains. Its winners will be announced Aug. 26. Any vaccinated Kentuckian over the age of 18 can enter for a chance to win $1 million. Any vaccinated Kentuckian ages 12-17 can enter for a chance to win a full scholarship to a Kentucky college, university, technical or trade school.

As the delta variant spreads across the United States, prompting a revival of masking requirements and new discussion about requiring vaccination, President Joe Biden has encouraged local governments to offer smaller guaranteed incentives — $100 per person — to people getting the COVID-19 vaccine.

FRANKFORT, Ky. — For Kentucky residents, getting your COVID-19 vaccine may pay off in more ways than one.

Kentucky announced its "Shot at a Million" lottery Friday, which will offer Kentuckians with at least one dose of COVID-19 vaccine the chance to win big.

Three Kentuckians age 18 and up who have received at least one dose of COVID-19 vaccine will win a $1 million prize, and 15 vaccinated Kentuckians ages 12-17 will win a full ride scholarship to any public Kentucky college, university, technical or trade school.

Permanent residents of Kentucky who have received at least the first dose of the Pfizer or Moderna COVID-19 vaccines or the one dose of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine are eligible. Permanent residents of Kentucky are eligible even if they received the vaccine in a different state.

One $1 million winner and five scholarship winners will be announced on July 2, July 30 and Aug. 27. Drawings will take place the day before.

With the campaign, Beshear said he hopes to see a "significant" jump in Kentucky vaccination rates, especially for the 12-17 age group. More than 46% of Kentucky's population has been vaccinated.

"What a great opportunity, Kentucky," Beshear said at a press conference Friday. "Do not pass this up. Protect yourself, protect your family, help us defeat a pandemic that has killed 7,000 Kentuckians, and at the same time get the shot at a million or a shot at a free college education."

To learn more, find a vaccine clinic and register for the "Shot at a Million" lottery, click here.

Watch a replay of the announcement below: