RALEIGH – Civilian life for a 14-year Air Force veteran from Greensboro started off with a big lottery win.

Staff Sgt. La’Saun McNair, who worked in the IT field during his military career, was honorably discharged after a 14 year Air Force career last weekend. Five days later, he found himself standing in the All In One Stop on South Elm Eugene Street holding a $120 Million Cash instant scratch-off ticket worth $1 million.

“I had stopped in to play Pick 3 when I thought I’d try my luck,” McNair said as he collected his winnings. “I saw that I had matched the number 10 and it said I had won a million dollars. I sat there looking at the ticket and it just didn’t register. Then I went straight home to tell my mom and my heart started beating so fast, I couldn’t believe it. It was one of the best days of my life.”

Players who win $1 million in the $120 Million Cash game can elect to receive annual payments of $50,000 for 20 years or take a lump sum cash option of $600,000. McNair chose the cash option and received a check for $408,006 after state and federal taxes were withheld.

“I’m going to buy a new house and invest the rest,” McNair said. “I may take a vacation, as well. But I’m going to stay humble. I feel great. I feel blessed.”

As of Wednesday afternoon, three $3 million top prizes, five $1 million prizes and five $100,000 prizes remain to be claimed in the $120 Million Cash game. The $20 game went on sale Oct. 1.

As of June 2013, the lottery has raised more than $2.9 billion to support education programs. The lottery completed its seventh straight year of record sales and record earnings for the state on June 30, recording a 5.8 percent increase in sales and an estimated 4 percent increase in earnings. Lottery dollars support teachers’ salaries in grades K-3, school construction and repair projects, prekindergarten programs for at-risk four-year-olds, college scholarships and financial aid based on need and digital learning initiatives.

To see how more than $127.6 million in lottery dollars have made a difference in Guilford County, go to the Where the Money Goes webpage at http://www.nc-educationlottery.org/beneficiary.aspx.