Jackie Paschall from Hillsborough is celebrating more than her wedding anniversary after winning $200,000 playing 10th Anniversary Spectacular.
“It’s just the best anniversary gift,” Paschall said.
Paschall, a paralegal, bought the ticket Thursday while she was celebrating her eleventh anniversary with her husband Fred. She put it in her purse and forgot about it until she was at work the next day.
“I took out my lucky penny and started scratching,” Paschall said. “When I realized how much I won, I started screaming and dancing with my co-worker.”
Paschall and her husband claimed the prize Friday at lottery headquarters in Raleigh. After federal and state tax withholdings, she received $138,501. Paschall plans to use the money for retirement.
Paschall bought the $5 ticket at the Bull Market on Guess Road in Durham.
10th Anniversary Spectacular launched in April with four top prizes of $200,000. Two top prizes remain.
Ticket sales from games like 10th Anniversary Spectacular made it possible for the lottery to raise more than half a billion dollars for the state last year. For details on how almost $46.1 million in lottery funds has made a difference in Orange County, click on the “For Education” section of the lottery’s website.