FRANKFORT, Ky. — Ginger Schultz is the latest Kentuckian to win $1 million as part of the Shot at a Million lottery, Kentucky's vaccine incentive program aimed at encouraging residents to get their COVID-19 vaccine.

Gov. Andy Beshear congratulated Schultz and five Kentucky youth selected for full-ride scholarships Friday in Frankfort.

“When you’re the Governor you get to do a lot interesting things, but getting to tell folks they just won a million dollars or that their kid’s education is taken care of, that’s pretty high on the list of duties I look forward to,” Beshear said. “Now, with the delta variant surging, it’s more important than ever that we talk about why we’re doing this drawing in the first place. We did it to encourage everyone to get vaccinated."

The second drawing was conducted Thursday, randomly selecting one adult Kentuckian for the $1 million prize and five youth to receive full-ride scholarships to a Kentucky public college, university, technical or trade school.

The five Kentucky youth selected for full scholarships are:

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

The winner of the program's second $1 million prize is Ginger Schultz from Louisville. Ginger’s husband, Michael Essen, also attended the news conference Friday.

“I have never experienced anything like this. It’s shocking because you don’t really think you’re going to win,” said Ginger Schultz. “Why take a chance at getting very sick and possibly die or even passing it on to someone else? That’s what my main concern was. My mom is 85 and she has breathing issues and I have always been very concerned about her getting it or me passing it on to her.”

Schultz said she registered for the drawing just two days before her name was selected. She added that she learned about the drawing from watching Spectrum News 1.

“The reason we got vaccinated was because it was the right thing to do to protect ourselves and the people around us,” Essen said. “I really believe getting vaccinated is what we have to do to get out of this tough situation.”

Vaccinated Kentuckians still have one more shot to become a millionaire or a scholarship winner. The final incentive drawing will take place Aug. 26, with one millionaire and five scholarship recipients announced the following day. Those who have not won remain eligible for the final drawing.

Gov. Beshear initially announced the sweepstakes June 4. Since then, more than 692,000 adult Kentuckians and more than 40,900 youth have signed up for the program.