Teen Wins $500K In Lottery, Plans To Go To College

FARMINGTON HILLS, MI – A 19-year-old Oakland County woman plans to go to college after winning $500,000 in a scratch-off lottery game. The woman, who chose to remain anonymous, claimed her prize on Monday.

"I thought I’d won $5,000," the woman told lottery officials. "My mom had to convince me it was really $500,000."

She bought the winning "Bring On The Bens" ticket for $5 at the 7-Eleven store on Farmington Road in Farmington Hills.

"The first thing I thought of after I won was: 'Now I can afford to go to Michigan State University.' It’s so great to win and know I don’t have to worry about how I’m going to pay for college."

In addition to paying for her college education, she told lottery officials she plans to use her winnings to buy her family a new home and send her brother on a school trip to Disneyland.

Players have won more than $10 million playing Bring on the Bens, which launched in September 2017, according to the Michigan Lottery. Each $5 ticket offers players a chance to win prizes ranging from $5 up to $500,000. More than $11 million in prizes remain, including two $500,000 top prizes and 57 $1,000 prizes.

Lottery instant games may be purchased at 11,000 retailers across the state.

Image courtesy of the Michigan Lottery