Bayside Student One Of First To Win Free COVID Tuition Raffle

BAYSIDE, QUEENS — Two students from Queens, one of whom lives in Bayside, won a full-ride scholarship to one of New York’s public universities on Wednesday.

Ariana Nasr of Bayside and Bai Tang Jiang of Queens are two of the first 10 students to win the state’s free tuition scholarship, which will be raffled off to a total of 50 New York students between the ages of 12-17 who get — or got — their first vaccine dose in the coming weeks.

The four-year scholarship, which is one of a growing list of incentives offered to those getting vaccinated against the coronavirus, is aimed at boosting vaccination rates among the state’s youngest eligible residents — who only recently became eligible for the two-dose Pfizer vaccine, and have the lowest vaccination rate in the state.

The scholarship covers full-tuition room and board to any public college or university, including SUNY schools, CUNY schools and community colleges, according to Governor Andrew Cuomo.

Wednesday’s raffle is the first of five random drawings, which will be held by the state every Wednesday through July 7.

Among the 10 students who won this first raffle, Nasr and Jiang were two of three from New York City, alongside Charlotte D'Agostino from the Bronx.

Eligible vaccinated New York youth can sign up here once a week.