$50K Scratch-Off Win to Pay Son's College Tuition

GERMANTOWN, MD —A Montgomery County carpenter got lucky twice when he carved out a $50,000 top-prize Maryland Lottery scratch-off win last week.

The Wizard of Oz game on sale at the 7-Eleven in Germantown was the last ticket of its kind at the Lottery retailer. Also, it was the game’s last $50,000 top-prize winning ticket in the entire state. The Boyds resident found the lucky scratch-off when he stopped to buy a cup of coffee. As soon as he spotted the lone $5 instant ticket, he went into action.

“That’s when I decided I’d get the ticket for me and my wife to scratch,” said the 46-year-old. “We were a little surprised when the ticket said we had won $50,000.”

Married for 26 years, the couple said their only immediate plan for the prize was paying off their 18-year-old son’s college tuition. They will put the rest of the prize into savings.

“I’m so glad my husband decided to get the scratch-off ticket for us,” said the wife. She is also attending college classes and some of the prize will probably go to help with her bills, too, she said.

The Montgomery County 7-Eleven store located at 18701 Liberty Mill Road will receive a $500 bonus from the Lottery for selling a top-prize scratch-off.