North Carolina Teachers’ Lottery Club Wins $100,000 Powerball Prize After 15 Years
SWANSBORO, N.C. — What began as a lighthearted joke among nine elementary school teachers has culminated in a surprising $100,000 Powerball prize, proving that a little luck and persistence can pay off in unexpected ways. The group, known as the “Nine Lucky Pirates,” formed about 15 years ago at Swansboro Elementary School, pooling their resources to buy lottery tickets together in the hopes of one day hitting it big.
Nicole Meadows, one of the club members, recalled how the idea was born. “Fifteen years ago it just kind of started as a joke and we were walking down the hall going, ‘If we won that we could retire early,’” she said. That casual conversation sparked a tradition that has endured for a decade and a half.
The winning ticket was purchased at a Walmart located on West Corbett Avenue in Swansboro for the November 24 Powerball drawing. The prize totaled $100,000, a significant windfall for the teachers who have long shared the dream of a jackpot. The other members of the club include Leah Allen, Mary Brooks, Leah Cottle, Suellen Dixon, Lori Jones, Jill Kidd, Cynthia Paredes, and Melinda Whorley.
The news of their win came as a shock to the group. Meadows described her reaction: “I couldn’t hardly talk. I was hyperventilating.” Suellen Dixon echoed the disbelief, recounting the moment they realized their fortune. “She is like, ‘We won!,’ and I am like, ‘What?,’ and Leah goes, ‘She is for real; we won, we won,’” Dixon said.
Each teacher claimed an equal share of the prize, receiving $11,110 before federal and state tax withholdings. After taxes, each took home approximately $7,972. The North Carolina Education Lottery oversees the distribution of winnings and ensures compliance with tax regulations, a process detailed on their official website.
The Powerball game, operated by the Multi-State Lottery Association, is one of the most popular lottery games in the United States, with jackpots frequently reaching into the hundreds of millions. The odds of winning smaller prizes like the one claimed by the Nine Lucky Pirates are considerably better than the jackpot odds but still require a mix of luck and persistence. Information about Powerball rules and prize tiers can be found on the official Powerball site.
Lottery clubs such as this one are a common way for groups to increase their chances of winning by pooling funds to buy more tickets. The North Carolina Education Lottery encourages responsible play and provides resources for players, accessible through the North Carolina General Assembly and related state agencies.
As the Nine Lucky Pirates reflect on their long journey from a casual joke to a real prize, their story highlights the camaraderie and hope that often accompany lottery play. Their win also serves as a reminder of the enduring appeal of games of chance and the excitement they bring to communities nationwide.
For more information on lottery regulations and responsible gaming, visit the North Carolina Department of Insurance, which oversees consumer protection related to gambling activities in the state.
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