CHARLESTON — West Virginia’s latest two winners for full-ride college scholarships appeared with the governor in his Thursday streamed pandemic briefing.

Devin Dawson, of Alma in Tyler County, and Paige Stanley, of Parkersburg, are the latest winners of the scholarships from Wednesday’s drawing in the Do it for Babydog vaccination sweepstakes.

Dawson, a student at Tyler Consolidated, said he was thankful to get the scholarship and plans to work toward a bachelor’s degree “to make West Virginia better.”

“Devin, I’m telling you, you’re great. We love you to death,” Justice said. “So proud of you buddy. So proud and so happy for you.”

Stanley also said she was thankful.

“I wasn’t expecting it to happen to me, and I am very grateful to have a full ride to college,” she said. “I don’t know what to say, I’m so shocked. Thank you.”

“Paige, listen, thank you,” the governor said. “Just seeing your big smile and everything. You’re beautiful beyond belief and everything. All I can do is thank you, thank Devin for getting vaccinated and thank you for your contribution to this great state. I mean it from the bottom of my heart.”

Besides the scholarship, Stanley and Dawson also received a Do it for Babydog book bag.

Four more weekly drawings in the sweepstakes are planned, including million-dollar prizes, life-time hunting and fishing license, getaways at state parks and hunting rifles and shotguns.

“All good stuff,” Justice said.

Thursday’s briefing included additional warnings of the more infectious and severe Delta variant of the virus. Fifteen cases of the Delta variant have now been found in West Virginia.

“We know that variant is growing very rapidly,” Dr. Clay Marsh, coronavirus leader in West Virginia, said.

On June 16, the Delta variant was 10 percent of cases in the U.S., according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Marsh said. On Wednesday, the CDC said the Delta variant is 51 percent of cases in the U.S.

“I think it was Dr. (Anthony) Fauci who said this is COVID-19 on steroids,” Marsh said.

The Delta mutant strain attacks people who are not vaccinated or are partially vaccinated, Marsh said.

“So being completely vaccinated is very highly protective against you getting COVID-19 or getting sick from COVID-19,” Marsh said.

While children were less likely to be infected by the original strain of the virus, that is not true with the Delta variant, he said.

The Food and Drug Administration has authorized the use of the Pfizer vaccine for youth 12-18.

Parents can protect children by avoiding crowded places where it’s unknown who has not been vaccinated, Marsh said. Indoor venues are riskier, according to Marsh.

“I would really encourage parents of children who need to have to go into those kinds of environments to have their children wear masks if they can and stay physically distant from people,” Marsh said.

Clinical trials may soon determine the vaccines also are safe for younger children, Marsh said. Until then parents need to consider mitigating measures such as masks, physical distancing and hand washing, he said.

“And really avoiding high-risk situations,” Marsh said.

In non-COVID-19 news, the governor said he has ordered the State Police to begin additional enforcement of the 55 mph speed limit in the I-81 work zone and all work zones in West Virginia. The action was taken following the death of two people trying to help others in the I-81 work zone in an accident involving speeding, Justice said.

“And I’m also directing the West Virginia Department of Transportation to go above and beyond the national safety standards with signage and traffic control. We will be monitoring this situation at all times and we will remain committed to making it safe in these work zones.”