A Powerball novice from Dunkirk won $50,000 in the Jan. 13 world-record jackpot drawing.BALTIMORE, Md. (Jan. 14, 2016)—A Dunkirk woman who is starting nursing school this month took a chance and bought just one $2 ticket for the world-record $1.6 billion jackpot drawing on Jan. 13. She won $50,000! The woman, whose name has not been released, joins more than 561,000 Maryland winners in the drawing, which saw players in three states hit the jackpot. Maryland is welcoming three $1 million winners, one $100,000 winner and 24 $50,000 winners to Lottery headquarters to claim their prizes.
“This was my first time even doing it,” said the 41-year-old winner, who described herself as very humble and “blessed.”
The 20-year U.S. Navy vet, who retired after serving as an operational specialist chief, was on her way home from the gym when she decided to buy a Powerball ticket at the Lothian Dash In. The Anne Arundel County store is located at 1378 Mt. Zion Marlboro Road. The first hurdle for the novice player was filling out the playslip, she said. Next, the Calvert County resident stood in line at the store only to discover that Lottery purchases must be made with cash. She then left the line to find an ATM. Cash in hand, she returned to the store and stood in line again determined to get a ticket.
The drawing came and went but the mother of two didn’t even think to check her ticket against the winning numbers. She was driving her daughter to junior high school the morning after the drawing when news of the jackpot being hit in three states led her to check her ticket. She couldn’t believe her luck!
“I’m just like, whoosh!” she said. “Oh, snap!”
The winner doesn’t yet know what she’ll do with her prize. “I’m still kind of shell-shocked,” she said. “I’m just very happy.”