Ward said she was at work when she was notified that she won. She didn’t think the call was real at first, and claims she almost hung up.

“Our hopes in getting the COVID vaccine were to return back to normalcy and to protect the elders that we love,” she said. The million dollars is an added bonus.

Ward said she and her husband have had to work two jobs each to support their two children.

“This money is going to take a huge burden off of the both of us,” she said with her husband and kids at her side. “We don’t have to continue to work two jobs to support our family.”

Ward said the worst part of the COVID-19 pandemic for her family was not being able to see parents and grandparents.

Ward explained that Thanksgiving is a major celebration in her family, and that her father-in-law hosts a large gathering every year. In 2020, because of the pandemic, the family decided not to gather.

A few weeks later, Ward’s father-in-law passed away. She said his death was due to underlying respiratory issues, not COVID-19. But the virus robbed them of the chance to mourn in the way the family wanted to.

“We weren’t able to do a proper service for him,” she said, getting slightly choked up. “That’s part of COVID, and that’s part of the reason people need to be getting vaccinated, so we can get back to normal.”

The next winner will be announced Friday, June 18.

Three more Coloradans 18 years old and up will win the $1 million prize. Twenty additional Coloradans between 12 and 17 years old will win a $50,000 scholarship.