Cumberland County grad celebrates new degree with a $250,000 prize

February 8, 2021 Posted by NC Lottery at 11:02 AM

Tejas Patel of Fayetteville had a hard time believing his good fortune after his $5 scratch-off revealed a $250,000 prize.

“When I saw the $250,000, I just couldn’t believe it,” he recalled. “Like, how could I just win?”

Patel purchased his winning $250,000 Gold Rush ticket from the Champs Food Mart on N.C. 41 West in Bladenboro.

“I don’t buy a lot of tickets, normally,” he said. “So, this was a surprise.”

He claimed his prize Friday at lottery headquarters in Raleigh and took home $176,876 after required federal and state tax withholdings.

“I just graduated from the University of Akron as a mechanical engineer,” said Patel. “That’s my second degree so it took a little bit of time.” He plans to put his winnings into savings.

10 COMMENTS

2/09/2021 12:10 - Ellyn H.

Congratulations!!!

2/09/2021 09:36 - Gloria C.

Congratulations to you and I wish you many more wonderful wins.

2/09/2021 08:24 - Myleshia S.

Congratulations!!

2/09/2021 05:25 - vanessa b.

Congrats

2/09/2021 12:39 - Tim M.

LZ, what e-mail address do we need to look for if we are notified of a win? That time I won on LUCK-E Rewards, I still haven't found that e-mail plus I never remember any voice mail either. I did however get the certified letter. Also, how about a 4th option: you also notify us on the app? So that way, when one logs in to scan tickets and enter drawings, there could be an instant pop-up or something, or perhaps "Messages" as in e-mail right on the app? It might could avoid a lot of certified mail. NC Lottery
Hi Tim, great question. All notifications from the NC Lottery will arrive from play@email.nclottery.com, accounting@mail.nclottery.com, customersupport@mail.nclottery.com, onlineplay@mail.nclottery.com, and luckerewards@mail.nclottery.com. Please make sure you allow emails from these addresses so that you will be notified about wins and other important updates. If you didn't receive an email when you won it may have been redirected to your spam folder. Thanks!

2/08/2021 08:20 - Debbian R.

Congrats

2/08/2021 04:06 - michael s.

Congratulations Tejas! Way to go!

2/08/2021 04:06 - Kimberly F.

congrads

2/08/2021 01:33 - David B.

Why do I get this email every week?.. Your auto-renewal for [GameName] is scheduled to be renewed on 02/10/2021, but the location verification from your initial purchase is about to expire.

2/08/2021 11:33 - Harold W.

Hey there, I think I know the answer, just want to make official. Can you transfer Lucky Reward points between accounts?

Cumberland County grad celebrates new degree with a $250,000 prize

February 8, 2021 Posted by NC Lottery at 11:02 AM

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