When Jawana Hooks of Raleigh took her first interior design class in middle school, she knew exactly what she wanted to study in college. Now she can follow her dream of a degree in interior design thanks to a $4 million lottery prize.

“I’m going to be starting school and my school fees are very expensive,” said Hooks. “I was stressing about that.”

That stress is now gone thanks to a Millionaire Bucks ticket that was bought at the Han-Dee Hugo on Atlantic Avenue in Raleigh.

Hooks had the choice of taking the $4 million as an annuity of $200,000 a year for 20 years or as a lump sum of $2.4 million. She chose the lump sum and, after federal and state tax withholdings, took home $1,698,006.

Along with a college degree, Hooks says she’ll “get a house and keep the rest in savings.”

The $20 game launched in June with four $4 million top prizes and six $100,000 prizes. One $4 million top prize and three $100,000 prizes remain to be won.

Ticket sales from scratch-off games make it possible for the lottery to raise more than $725 million a year for education. For details on how lottery funds have helped all of North Carolina’s 100 counties, click on the “Impact” section of the lottery’s website.