On 19th birthday, UNC Wilmington student wins big on scratch-off lottery ticket
A student at the University of North Carolina Wilmington played the lottery for the first time on her 19th birthday and won $100,000 on a $20 scratch-off ticket.
According to a news release from the North Carolina Education Lottery, Laniah Ashley, a first-year biology student at UNCW, was home for spring break when she stopped at a convenience store in Clinton on Wednesday — her birthday — and purchased a $20 100X The Cash scratch-off.
“It was my first time ever buying a ticket,” Ashley said. “I thought the colors on the ticket looked pretty so I chose that one."
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When she realized she was holding a winning ticket, Ashley said she was "too excited to believe it was true."
According to the release, Ashley arrived at lottery headquarters Thursday to collect her prize. After state and federal tax withholdings, she took home $71,016.
Ashley said she plans to attend medical school, so she's planning to put some of her winnings toward that and use some to help her grandparents.
This article originally appeared on Wilmington StarNews: Wilmington college freshman wins big on NC Lottery scratch-off ticket
