There are millions of stories of students who have benefitted from the Georgia Lottery, and a Banks County resident is one of them.
Georgia Simmons is studying environmental resource sciences at the University of Georgia, said Gretchen Corbin, who is the CEO and president of the Georgia Lottery Corporation.
A HOPE scholarship recipient, she is one of 4.6 million students who can either jumpstart or further their education thanks to the Georgia Lottery.
Apart of leadership for multiple campus organizations, Simmons has interned for a U.S. senator and the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Corbin told Patch.
But, her time at UGA would not be possible without the lottery and the HOPE scholarship that it funds.
"If it weren't for the HOPE scholarship, college wouldn't have
been an opportunity for me and many of my peers," she said, via Corbin. "Graduates empowered by HOPE go on to become teachers, nurses, public servants, entrepreneurs; ultimately shaping Georgia's communities towards a path of success."
The HOPE scholarship is one program the Georgia Lottery funds.
When lottery players purchase tickets for games, such as the Fantasy Five or Cash 4 Life, they are also fueling the state's pre-K program and helping millions of students have a chance at education.
A $1 ticket can turn into a bachelor's degree for one lucky student. A $2 Powerball ticket can mean a 4-year-old child can be introduced to school ahead of kindergarten.
The aid stretches back to the 1990s when Zell Miller was governor.
Under Miller's tenure as Georgia's top chief, the lottery was established in November 1992.
Corbin said it was the voters who approved a constitutional amendment and gave the state lottery life.
Through the Lottery for Education Act, the Georgia Lottery Corporation was then founded as the overseer of the lottery. It came with a hefty price tag.
Not able to receive state funds, the GLC had to obtain a $15 million loan "to get the ball rolling so to speak" and start its business, Corbin told Patch.
And thus, ticket sales began on June 29, 1993. They were profitable as the GLC was able to pay back its massive loan within a week of operating.
The purpose of the lottery? Miller strived to use proceeds to supplement educational dollars, Corbin said.
"He believed that, if we could provide students with a
high-quality start to their education through pre-K, and then give students a reason to stay in Georgia on HOPE, chances were that they would remain here, work here, create
jobs here and raise families here," she said, "making Georgia even stronger. When we look back over the past 33 years, we see just how successful Gov. Miller's vision has been. The Georgia Lottery has lived up to the vision and the promise."
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The GLC transfers 100 percent of its profits quarterly to the State Treasury's Lottery for Education Account for the HOPE and pre-K programs, Corbin said. Since its inception, the GLC said $31.3 billion has gone toward state education.
At least 2.3 million students have benefitted from the HOPE scholarship, and at least 2.3 million 4-year-old children have been able to attend pre-K due to the lottery, she said.
The Georgia Department of Early Care and Learning oversees the state's pre-K program, and the Georgia Student Finance Commission oversees the HOPE and Zell Miller scholarship programs.
Zell Miller is one of six aid programs provided under HOPE, Corbin said. Other facets of the program are the HOPE and Zell Miller grants, HOPE Career grant, the High School Equivalency Examination grant program.
"Georgia's pre-K program is one of the most important investments we make in our state's children, and the Georgia Lottery makes that investment possible. Thanks to lottery funding, Georgia can offer a high-quality early learning experience that meets all 10 of 10 national benchmarks for quality," Georgia DECAL Commissioner Amy M. Jacobs told Patch.
"We also know that children who attend pre-K make gains across all learning domains and are better prepared for kindergarten than children who did not attend. That means the Georgia Lottery isn't just funding pre-K. It's helping build a stronger foundation for Georgia's children and our state's future."
Pre-K is the start of a student's education. For some students, postsecondary education may begin at a four-year college or university in the Technical College System of Georgia.
Private and public high-school students may embark on their college journey through HOPE. Award amounts varies, but they are offered thanks to the GLC and its lottery games.
"Georgia is a national leader in providing financial aid for postsecondary education because of the Georgia Lottery Corporation. For more than three decades, lottery proceeds have supported the HOPE scholarship and grant programs, opening doors to educational opportunities for millions of Georgians," Chris Green, president of the Georgia Student Finance Commission, told Patch.
"These programs have made college more affordable for Georgia families and helped our state develop a highly educated and skilled workforce. The Georgia Lottery is one of our state's greatest assets. Its success represents a sustained investment in Georgia's students, families and future workforce. Every dollar invested in educational opportunity helps strengthen our communities, support economic growth and ensures that Georgia remains a great place to live, work and raise a family."
Aside from its normal programs, the GLC also utilized $145 million of its proceeds to help launch the need-based Georgia DREAMS scholarship.
Georgia DREAMS was sponsored by state Sen. Chuck Payne and was signed into law in May before launching in the fall.
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Amid economic uncertainties, Corbin said the lottery is holding strong, sending $1.54 billion to the State Treasury's Lottery for Education Account in Fiscal Year 2026.
This is the 11th consecutive year that the GLC has soared pass $1 billion for education, Corbin said.
"As with any business, the economy impacts our sales," she said. When economic conditions change, spending habits change."
Be that as it may, Corbin said the GLC is staying true to its mission.
Of about 180 world lotteries, she said the Georgia Lottery is top 5 in total per capita sales globally and top 3 in per capita returns across 46 national lotteries.
"We are proud of our achievements and their impact on Georgia, but we are not resting on our laurels," Corbin said. "We will continue to work hard and maximize opportunities to drive long-term success with exciting, innovative new games and promotions, as well as technological enhancements and upgrades at retail and on our iLottery platform."
She added 0.95 cents of every Georgia Lottery dollar is returned through education, prizes and retailer commissions.
As of Friday, the Powerball sat at $760 million while players had a chance to win $463 million through the Mega Millions.
"You can purchase a ticket from one of our valued, hardworking retail partners," she said. "You also can purchase a ticket on our Georgia Lottery mobile app or on our website at galottery.com. Every time you play, Georgia's students win, and you just might, too."
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