Nakia W. works as a certified nursing assistant, which requires long hours, and there’s never a shortage of work. In need of some time away, Nakia and her boyfriend coordinated a week-long vacation together. The couple enjoyed time in both Chicago and Elkhart. On the way to Chicago, they stopped at a gas station, and Nakia’s boyfriend encouraged her to buy a Powerball® ticket. An occasional lottery player, this was only the third time Nakia had played the Hoosier Lottery.

“I didn’t know what to say or how to buy a ticket,” Nakia said about being a novice player.

A few days later, back at her home in Elkhart, Nakia’s boyfriend scooped his winning tickets off the table to cash them when he spotted Nakia’s Powerball ticket.

“Have you scanned that yet?” he asked.

After scanning the ticket, Nakia realized she had won a large prize. The couple quickly checked the numbers and saw she won $50,000!

Nakia plans to share her prize money with her adult children, pay bills and buy Christmas presents for her grandchildren.

Powerball® Overall Odds: 1 in 25