$10K Lottery Win to Help Laurel Mom Send Daughter to College

LAUREL, MD — A Laurel mom who bought tickets for the 10x Cash scratch-off game while on vacation in Ocean City says her winnings will help pay for her daughter's college costs.

Winning mom Dawn Abunassar of Laurel vowed to return to Lottery headquarters with another lucky 10x Cash ticket. She was determined to find at least one more of the 107 remaining top prizes in the popular $10 game.

The homemaker and her husband, Anthony, who is with WebbMason Marketing, arrived in the Lottery Winner’s Circle last week.

Dawn was playing den mother to 10 kids during the family vacation, which led to her visit to Assawoman Ale Shoppe to buy scratch-offs to entertain adults in the group. The Ocean City store contained a Lottery vending machine, so the mother of three returned to the family gathering with a large selection of games. She’d already won $500 earlier and was hoping for more Lottery luck.

Anthony scratched off the lucky ticket and the celebration began. The bulk of their winnings will go to offset college costs for a daughter headed to the University of Maryland this fall.

Dawn is keeping some of the prize to build back up her scratch-off fund. “I only spend what I win,” she said.

»PHOTO: Beachgoers Dawn and Anthony Abunassar of Laurel claimed their prize on Friday after leaving sun and surf behind in Ocean City. Courtesy of Maryland Lottery