Money Monster Winner Table

DATE	NAME	LOCATION	PRIZE
9/9/2025	-	-	$500
9/16/2025	-	-	$500
9/23/2025	-	-	$500
9/30/2025	-	-	$500
10/7/2025	-	-	$500
10/15/2025	-	-	$500
10/21/2025	-	-	$500
10/28/2025	-	-	$500
11/4/2025	-	-	Jackpot

2025 CW Adams Elementary Rivard

Date: July 2025

School: Adams Elementary School

Wish Delivered: Classroom Furniture

Teacher Ellie Rivard says "As a first-year teacher, I’m working on building my classroom from the ground up. I want it to be a safe, welcoming space where students can learn, grow, and feel excited to come to school every day. Many of these items, like the rug, circle pillows, and round pouf, will help me create a cozy reading area where students can relax and enjoy books. The reading phone will let them hear themselves read, which helps build confidence and fluency. Things like the 5-drawer chest, plastic drawer containers, storage bins, wood crates, cubbies, and magazine holders will help keep the classroom organized. These will also give students a place to keep their things, helping them take responsibility for their materials. Items like clipboards, carpet dots, and stickers will help with classroom routines and management. The stickers and LifeSavers will be used as fun rewards to motivate and celebrate students' efforts and good behavior.The magnetic tiles will be used for hands-on play and learning, helping students build creativity and work together. Each of these items will help me create a space that’s fun, organized, and built for student success."

Wish Amount: $725

2025 CW Adams Elementary Gatica

Date: July 2025

School: Adams Elementary

Wish Delivered: Art Supplies

Teacher Beatrice Gatica says "I am an educator at Adams Elementary in Rexburg. I have experience teaching both Kindergarten and first grade, and I will be focusing on Kindergarten for the upcoming school year.

On my wish list, I have special pencils designed specifically for kindergartners. These pencils will assist our students in learning the proper way to hold a pencil, which is crucial for developing their handwriting skills. Additionally, I am seeking sensory toys that can be utilized during centers or provide students with a much-needed break from their learning activities. My wish list also includes various supplies for art and educational purposes. In Kindergarten, we utilize a wide array of materials to make learning enjoyable and engaging!"

Wish Amount: $650

2025 CW Riverbend Elementary McNeel

Date: July 2025

School: Riverbend Elementary

Wish Delivered: 3D Printer

Teacher Tiffanie McNeel says "As a third-grade teacher, I am constantly seeking ways to make learning more engaging and meaningful for my students. A 3D printer would bring hands-on, interactive learning to life across multiple subjects. For example, students could design and print animal models during our science units, or create geometric shapes in math to explore fractions and measurement in a tangible, memorable way. This type of creative learning fosters critical thinking and helps students better connect abstract concepts to the real world."

Wish Amount: $991

2025 CW Rigby Middle Peck

Date: July 2025

School: Rigby Middle School

Wish Delivered: Classroom Supplies

Teacher Angilee Peck says "Our school totals around 960 students. This is the first year that elementary students from 3 schools are now combined to create the middle school population. This past year, our school district implemented a no cell-phone campus. That has resulted in a huge opportunity for face-to-face interactions and the increase in library use. Our library was not equipped for the influx of students. It is common to see students arrive in plenty of time before the bell, especially for those students needing a safe place as parents leave for work, as well as some arriving on early buses. With the new cell phone policy, the library is now becoming a popular spot to meet up with students. The grant will allow us to focus on creating a warm, learning enriched environment and to give room for my school budget to buy the books needed for our diverse student population."

Wish Amount: $1,740

Idaho Lottery Celebrates 36th Year Showcasing Improvements to College Campuses

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

BOISE, Idaho – The Idaho Lottery celebrated 36 years of entertainment and games by showcasing their contributions to the State of Idaho’s Permanent Building Fund and the work done on college campuses. The Idaho Lottery’s announcement came during a ceremony at the College of Western Idaho as Governor Brad Little accepted the People of Idaho’s dividend check for $75 million.

This year’s $75 million dividend is the third largest in the Lottery’s 36-year history.

“Equally important, Lottery dividends provide critical resources for our infrastructure of state-owned buildings, the bulk of those being on our college campuses,” said Brad Little, Idaho Governor. “Lottery dividends also are paying down the voter-approved bonds and levies on public school facilities at a record pace, reducing taxpayer burdens to provide quality education for our youth.”

After a change by the Idaho Legislature in 2024, Idaho Lottery dividends are used by school districts to provide property tax relief by paying down voter-approved bonds and levies. In addition, three-eighths of the dividend is used by the Department of Administration’s Permanent Building Fund to complete maintenance, alteration and repair, and capital projects on the State’s permanent facilities.

“Today's dividend announcement, and this past year's achievements during a difficult, but improving economy, are the result of smart work from a dedicated team of professionals at the Idaho Lottery," said Andrew Arulanandam, Idaho Lottery Director. “The result of our efforts can be seen in the work done by the Division of Public Works and the Permanent Building Fund and in real world examples like the new CapEd Student Success Center now being constructed on the CWI Campus.”

Governor Little and Idaho Lottery Commission Chairman Craig Corbett awarded Idaho Superintendent of Public Instruction Debbie Critchfield and the Department of Education a check for $46,875,000.
"Lottery dividends facilitate an important investment in the integrity and safety of the facilities that our students and staff use daily," said Superintendent of Public Instruction Debbie Critchfield. "The direct impact that these improvements can make on the experiences that students and staff have in our schools cannot be understated, and we're grateful to the Idaho Lottery Commission for making this contribution possible for our communities."

On behalf of the Department of Administration and Director Steve Bailey, Dale Reynolds, Director of the Department’s Division of Public Works, received a check worth $28,125,000 from Governor Little and Commissioner Corbett.

"This Idaho Lottery dividend will fund crucial projects for our facilities across the State of Idaho," announced Steve Bailey, Director of the Idaho Department of Administration. "These funds are essential for maintaining and enhancing our state agencies, universities, colleges, and public buildings. They support vital maintenance, safety improvements, and ensure our facilities remain modern and well-maintained. We extend our sincere gratitude to the citizens of Idaho whose participation in the lottery makes these investments possible."

This year’s dividend comes after the Idaho Lottery eclipsed $400 million in revenue for the third consecutive year.

In addition to the dividend, the Idaho Lottery also awarded $274.8 million in prizes to players while the Lottery’s network of 1,230 brick and mortar retail locations earned $23.3 million in commissions.

###

ABOUT THE IDAHO LOTTERY
The Idaho Lottery responsibly provides a variety of entertaining games featuring Powerball, Mega Millions, Scratch GamesTM, and PullTabs with a high degree of integrity to maximize the dividend for Idaho public schools and the permanent building fund. Since their inception in 1989, the Idaho Lottery has sold over $6.2 billion in products, awarded $3.99 billion in prizes to players, returned $365.7 million in retail commissions, and distributed $1.348 billion in Lottery dividends to Idaho public schools and buildings. To learn more, please visit www.idaholottery.com.

2025 CW Lena Whitmore Elementary Guier

Date: July 2025

School: Lena Whitmore Elementary School

Wish Delivered: Books and Sensory Supplies

Teacher Jillian Guier says "My students need a classroom that feels magical—colorful, calming, inviting. Many of them come in carrying stress, fear, or trauma, and I want my room to be the place that sparks their curiosity and helps them believe that school can be a joyful, welcoming escape. I want it to be a place where they feel peace, where they’re free to explore, create, grow, and be themselves. I currently buy snacks out of pocket to make sure no child is hungry, but that’s becoming harder to sustain. These wishlist items would directly support my students’ academic, emotional, and behavioral development—and help me create the kind of classroom that doesn’t just meet their needs, but inspires them to dream bigger."

Wish Amount: $2,159

2025 CW St Maries High School Asbury

Date: July 2025

School: St. Maries High Schools

Wish Delivered: Classroom Supplies

Teacher Chelcie Asbury says "I am asking the Idaho Lottery to help me transform my special education classroom into an environment that is conducive to providing instruction to a variety of high school learners with special needs. Since transferring to the high school several years ago, I have been teaching in what is called the “dungeon.” Running several groups in a small space has been very difficult. In fact, I had to move one of my groups to a Life Skills kitchen that can no longer be used for what it was intended for. Due to a recent turn of events, I will finally get a classroom, with windows even! Talk about exciting news!"

Wish Amount: $3,367

Mark Miller

Susan Boehm-webb

Wendy Johnson

Long Haul Trucker Wins $300,000

Long haul trucker Davinderjit Khabra, from Elk Grove, California, was passing through Idaho when he pulled into the Pilot Truck Stop in Mountain Home. He purchased a $30 Wealth and Riches Scratch ticket and won the first top prize on the game of $300,000!

Welcome to Idaho.

According to Khabra, as he traveled across the country, he had routinely played the Lottery in other states. But he had not won anything as big as this prize.

Khabra said he was considering one or two big purchases with his winnings, possibly both. He was thinking of buying a house or buying his own semi-truck.

For selling the winning ticket, Pilot received a bonus from the Idaho Lottery for $20,000.

Karen Biles

Cash Cooler Winners

For second chance entrants of the Idaho Lottery’s Game Cash Spectacular, players had the opportunity to win one of six mystery Cash Coolers. Each winner received a new cooler filled with outdoor themed prizes, like camping gear, barbeque gear or pool party accessories. The coolers also had Cash Spectacular Scratch tickets where players keep all their prize winnings. Plus, each cooler prize winner received cold hard cash, winning a check between $500 and $4,000! Here are the winners!

Linda Caraway, Post Falls

Tyler Chilton, Post Falls

Ronald Black, Boise

Joshua Grad, Boise

Millie Smith, Rupert

Brandon Barnhart, Meridian

Commission Meeting Minutes June 30, 2025

Angela Jimenez Rivera

Davinderjit Khabra

2025 CW Mountain Home High School

Date: June 2025

School: Mountain Home High School

Wish Delivered: Desks

Teacher Samantha McDonald says "

We currently use $20 folding camp tables as desks in many of our rooms. They are not sturdy enough to hold up to constant abuse. I would love a classroom set of actual tables designed for chairs to be brought (not attached) and sit one student only. This will allow students to work individually or collaboratively as needed. It will also provide students with a quality surface to work on that is not warping or defaced."

Wish Amount: $6,000

Happy Mother’s Day – You Won a Truck!

For Air National Guard Reservist Taylor Smith, Mother’s Day weekend was fairly routine. After a few presents, shopping with his wife Alicia, and visiting family, Taylor found himself with $20 left over.

“I told my wife, I’m gonna play the lottery,” he said. Alicia was not too happy with him over the decision, but Taylor was determined and purchased four, $5 Bucks n’ Trucks Scratch tickets from the Jacksons ExtraMile at Deer Flat and Linder Roads in Kuna. The couple split the tickets to scratch.

After just a few minutes of playing their tickets, Alicia began to exclaim, “I think we won a truck! I think we won a truck!”

Taylor and Alicia, yes, you won a truck!

The Smith’s became the first winners on the Idaho Lottery’s game Bucks n’ Trucks. The couple worked with Corwin Ford in Nampa to select an Oxford White Ford F-150 Tremor with all the top-of-the-line features. The keys were delivered to Taylor and Alicia shortly after Father’s Day.

The couple plan to take their young daughter camping as their first big outing in their new truck.

Happy Mother’s and Father’s Day!

Jenessa Castaneda

Power Outage Leads to $30,000 Win

One of the more frustrating experiences for homeowners is when the power goes out unexpectedly. But what happens when the power is out on Friday the 13th? For Jenessa Castaneda, Boise, her power outage in June was a lucky occurrence and led to her winning the first top prize in the $3 Scratch Game One-word Cashword.

“I bought the ticket over a month ago and never had a spare minute to scratch it,” laughed Castaneda, a single mother of three. “When the power went out, I couldn’t cook, I couldn’t do the laundry, I couldn’t do anything, so I pulled out the scratch ticket and played it.”

Given she was playing “in the dark”, when she realized she had won the game’s top prize of $30,000 she didn’t believe it.

“I checked the ticket and felt like there was certainly something wrong,” she described. “After I checked it and checked it, I scanned it with the Lottery app on my phone. It said I needed to go to the Lottery Offices.”

Still not believing she had a big winner, once the power was restored, she took the winning ticket to her nearest convenience store. The store’s Lottery terminals confirmed what her phone app had been telling her: she needed to bring it to the Lottery Office to claim.

Castaneda plans to use her winnings to catch up on what she calls the “new modern American dream – getting out of debt.” Paying off bills and supporting her children are her top priorities.

Her winning ticket was sold at the luckiest store in America – Jacksons on Orchard near I-84 in Boise.

Time Running Out to Claim $1,000,000 Raffle Prize

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

BOISE, Idaho – Time is quickly running out for one Idaho Lottery player to claim their $1,000,000 prize from last winter’s Idaho $1,000,000 Raffle. The winning $1,000,000 ticket in question, ticket 063647, is set to expire at 5 pm Mountain Time on Monday, June 30, 2025. After that time, by law, the Idaho Lottery will be unable to pay the claim.

This $1,000,000 winning ticket was sold from an Idaho Lottery retail location in Star, Idaho.

In addition to the $1,000,000 ticket, there are three $1,000 tickets that also remain unclaimed from this year’s game:

Ticket 061340 sold in Rathdrum.
Ticket 083502 sold in Nampa.
Ticket 140188 sold in Middleton.

Those three tickets were from the daily drawings held at the beginning of the game.

All unclaimed prizes at the end of the fiscal year ultimately find their way back to the Idaho Lottery’s beneficiaries: Idaho public schools and the Department of Administration’s Permanent Building Fund for places like Idaho’s college and university campuses. Each year, about $5 million in winning Idaho Lottery tickets go unclaimed.

If no one steps forward with the winning ticket, this will become only the third $1 million winning draw ticket in Idaho Lottery history to go unclaimed and the first in more than a decade. In 2010 a $1,000,000 Powerball winning ticket sold in Irwin, Idaho – near the Idaho-Wyoming border – went unclaimed. And in June 2012, another $1,000,000 Powerball ticket, sold from a Maverik Store in Meridian, also went unclaimed.

Players have 180 days from the date of a draw, or official end of a game, to claim winning tickets. Idaho $1,000,000 Raffle players have until June 30, 2025, to claim these prizes through the Idaho Lottery office in Boise.

This year’s Idaho $1,000,000 Raffle generated more than $1,600,000 in dividend revenue to benefit Idaho public schools and buildings.

###

ABOUT THE IDAHO LOTTERY
The Idaho Lottery responsibly provides a variety of entertaining games featuring Powerball, Mega Millions, Scratch GamesTM, and PullTabs with a high degree of integrity to maximize the dividend for Idaho public schools and the permanent building fund. Since their inception in 1989, the Idaho Lottery has sold over $5.8 billion in products, awarded more than $3.7 billion in prizes to players, returned $342 million in retail commissions, and distributed $1.273 billion in Lottery dividends to Idaho public schools and buildings. To learn more, please visit www.idaholottery.com.

Jason Ingram

2025 CW Greenacres Elementary Willard

Date: June 2025

School: Greenacres Elementary

Wish Delivered: Sensory Supplies

Teacher Kristine Willard says "I will be teaching moderate to severe, non-verbal kindergarteners and 1st graders with Autism in the Fall. I plan on making a sensory room for these students who have high behavior/sensory needs. I also need the IPads for communication (there are free communication app's that I will install). This will be a new class and there is very little items in this class for the students. The Sensory area will be used daily depending on the sensory needs of the students (hence why I will need options for the students). Providing for the communication needs of the students in this classroom is also important. I will have 14 students, but I will be able to use low tech communication aids for some of the students, which is why I only want 5 IPads."

Wish Amount: $2,327

Kelly Ann Taggart

Veronica Moreno

Rockets Blast Off in Bancroft

Nestled against the backdrop of the Caribou-Targhee National Forest in southeast Idaho is the small town of Bancroft. Back in November, the Idaho Lottery delivered a Classroom Wishlist project to Alex Sandoval’s 5th grade classroom at North Gem School in Bancroft. For their science curriculum, the students were going to study space. As their project, each student was going to build a working rocket to launch in the spring.

On a partly cloudy spring afternoon in May, Mrs. Sandoval’s class was ready for her students to make their rocket’s maiden voyages and launch them into the sky.

“These rockets are capable of reaching 1,900 to 2,000 feet into the sky,” said Mrs. Sandoval. “We had to postpone the launch a day because of high winds aloft. We were worried about where the rockets would end up!”

Her students echoed her sentiments. “Besides how to build a rocket, we’ve learned about practice, patience, and perseverance, especially in launching our rockets,” said one of her students before the flights.

“We also learned about Jose Hernandez whose childhood dream was to become a NASA astronaut and applied twelve times before being accepted into their training program,” said another student.

When asked who was going to be the next astronaut from the class, one young boy replied, “Astronaut? I don’t want to be an astronaut. I want to be a cowboy!”

When this student was asked if they w

ould need cowboys in space, he thought for a minute, then revised his original statement: “Space Cowboys?! I could be the first!”

Moments later in the spring sunshine, the class successfully launched all their rockets, many of which were named “Wizard” or the classic “Saturn V”.

Here is wishing Mrs. Sandoval’s class fair skies, calm winds, and safe flights!

Commission Meeting Minutes May 22, 2025

2025 CW Idaho Arts Charter Bass

Date: May 2025

School: Idaho Arts Charter

Wish Delivered: Desks

Teacher Erin Bass says "My students don’t have desks. Instead, they sit at oversized trapezoid-shaped tables designed for three students per group. These tables are bulky, inflexible, and simply not made for a modern elementary classroom—especially one with diverse learners. They dominate the room, limit movement, and offer little to no individual space for students. There’s no option to turn, shift, or separate the tables to meet different learning needs. Students can’t face the front of the room at the same time. No matter how I arrange them, at least one or two students in each group end up with their backs to the board. That’s a huge instructional barrier."

Wish Amount: $1,782

Cardinal Academy

As part of the Classroom Wishlist program, the Idaho Lottery hosted a ceremony presenting much needed technology upgrades and 30 new Chromebooks to support the ongoing mission of the Cardinal Academy Public Charter School in west Boise. The delivery ceremony for the $9,750 award occurred in mid-May. The school’s counselor, Amber Abercrombie, made the request on behalf of their faculty and student population.

The Cardinal Academy is a public charter high school for pregnant and parenting teens. The school’s mission is to help these students complete high school. Mobile technology, like laptops or Chrome books, often makes the difference in being able to graduate.

In Amber’s words, “When our school opened four years ago, money was so tight that we gladly accepted any old, discarded laptops other local schools were retiring so those schools could get new ones. Those old laptops are now four years older than they were when we got them and they glitch, do not hold charges, are broken, or in disrepair. We do not have a budget to replace them, so we are slapping a "band aid" on them and carrying on. Our students are often on bedrest, maternity leave, or home with sick babies. We need to have a working device for each of our students in case they have to do their coursework from home.”

Wish granted. Congratulations to all 18 students of the Cardinal Academy who graduated this spring!

Ronald Jordan

Stephen Hardesty

Ada Robinson

Commission Meeting Minutes March 20, 2025

Commission Meeting Minutes May 15, 2025

2025 CW Sagle Elementary Vanderhoof

Date: May 2025

School: Sagle Elementary School

Wish Delivered: Reading Phones

Teacher Jen Corneelius says "Whisper phones allow students to hear themselves reading aloud clearly during small group reading intervention time when there may be other noises in the classroom. Listening to themselves read aloud in a quiet way will aid students in self-correcting their errors and boosting comprehension while not adding to the noise in the classroom."

Wish Amount: $65.00

2025 CW Kellogg Middle School Houston

Date: May 2025

School: Kellogg Middle School

Wish Delivered: Essential needs supplies

Teacher Sandie Houston says "I run what we call The Den at Kellogg Middle School in Kellogg, Idaho. We have a large percentage of students and families below the poverty level and many who are also homeless, living in campers etc. The Den is a safe place for students who may not do as well in a normal classroom, need to eat, toiletries, clothes, shoes and other items needed. Right now, I do all of this out of my own pocket. Students are able to come to The Den for all kinds of things, makeup work if they were absent, a place to be if they are stressed, a place to feel safe, accepted, and comfortable. I try to fill as many needs as I can."

Wish Amount: $7,000

2025 CW Canfield Library Holcomb

Date: May 2025

School: Canfield Library

Wish Delivered: Books

Teacher Sarah Holcomb says "I have many students who are needing dyslexia font books for free reading time and projects. Many students who are dyslexic are hi-lo readers; meaning they need books that are printed in a friendly font and are high interest and low reading level. We currently do not have any of these books in our library. These books would be available to all of our 750 students at the Canfield Middle School Library. These book will help students that are struggling with dyslexia or other comprehension issues. Many students are wanting to check out books from our library for free reading a class projects. At this time, I am unable to provide these books for this vulnerable population. Our students would like to have access to hi-lo books that would hold their interest and meet classroom project needs."

Wish Amount: $282.00

2025 CW Cardinal Academy Public Charter Abercrombie

Date: May 2025

School: Cardinal Academy Public Charter

Wish Delivered: Computers

Teacher Amber Abercrombie says "We are a high school for pregnant and parenting teens. When our school opened 4 years ago, money was so tight that we gladly accepted the old discarded laptops another local school was retiring so they could get new ones. Those old laptops are now 4 years older than they were when we got them and they glitch, do not hold charges, are broken, or in disrepair. We do not have a budget to replace, so we are slapping a "bandaid" on them and carrying on. Because of our population, our students are often on bedrest, maternity leave, or home with sick babies. We have to have a working device for each of our students in case they have to do their coursework from home."

Wish Amount: $9570.00

Cash Cooler Weekly

Win a Cash Cooler full of summer camping supplies from the Idaho Lottery and up to $4,000 in cash!

Two Gold and Silver Top Prizes Claimed on Same Day

One of the most sought-after Scratch games in recent Idaho Lottery memory ended when both top prizes of $300,000 from the game Gold & Silver were claimed at Lottery offices in Boise on Monday. In recent weeks, with both top prizes unclaimed, the Idaho Lottery had received numerous record requests for lists of retail locations and a steady stream of daily phone calls from players asking about the game’s status, all trying to track down any available tickets that remained for sale. When both Gold & Silver winners were claimed, the game had sold 99.97% of all available tickets.

The first Gold & Silver top prize of $300,000 was sold from Cameron Mini Mart in Kellogg in northern Idaho. The second Gold & Silver top prize of $300,000 was sold at Maverik in Rigby in eastern Idaho. 

Both top prizes were purchased and claimed by Fortunate Sons, LLC, a group of friends from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania who engage in “Lotto-tourism” all across America. Lottery players, both in and out of the state, will invest their money and time in travel-related expenses, scouring the country in hopes of trying to find a top prize-winning ticket by purchasing as many remaining tickets in a game as possible.

In addition to the sale of the scratch tickets purchased by these organizations, these traveling players also contribute to Idaho’s economy through overnight accommodations, rental car fees, fuel, and food expenses. It isn’t uncommon for Lottery players to cross borders. Players from Oregon, Washington, and Utah often cross into Idaho to play the Lottery and the same is true for Idaho Lottery players.

The Idaho Lottery does not endorse the strategy employed by these organizations that chase jackpots all across our country.

For selling the top prizes on Gold & Silver, Cameron Mini Mart and Maverik will each receive a bonus from the Idaho Lottery of $20,000.

Brian Carter

2025 CW Eagle Hills Elementary Ludvik

Date: May 2025

School: Eagle Hills Elementary

Wish Delivered: Special Education supplies

Teacher Zuzana Ludvik says "All of these items will allow our special education department to set up a social skills room for our students. This room is a little different than a sensory room because we focus on social skills, specifically for our students on the autism spectrum. The beanbags, rug, plants, bookshelf, wall decor, baskets, lamps, and wall sensory decor will allow us to set up a calm, neutral space for the students. The additional items such as legos, play doh, weighted stuffed animals, board game, and sensory stones will provide students with activities and sensory items. Students will be grateful for a calming space we can hold our daily social skills groups in."

Wish Amount: $1290.08

Wendy Fortney

Michael Cole

2025 CW Pillar Falls Elementary Cardinale

Date: May 2025

School: Pillar Falls Elementary

Wish Delivered: Classroom Books

Teacher Heather Cardinale says " Listen While You Learn is a reading program introduced by the school librarian during the fall of the 2022-2023 school year, thanks to the generous support of the Twin Falls Education Foundation. The program is available to Kindergarten through 4th-grade students at Pillar Falls Elementary School. My wish list will support the growth and continuation of the Listen While You Learn program, which engages students and promotes a love of reading. This will be achieved by purchasing resources such as VOX Books and Immersive Reality (IR) Books. Unfortunately, due to budget cuts and a lack of funding, we have not been able to complete the purchase of all necessary materials to reach as many students as desired."

Wish Amount: $1903.42

Kelly Cline

Paula Oogjen

Scratch for Schools 2025

The Idaho Lottery hosted the most successful series of events for Scratch for Schools in the program’s 24 year history. Exactly 500 schools competed in one of 11 events, from the small intimate venue of the Cambridge Fire Station to the mega-sized event with 108 schools at the Ford Idaho Center.

Originally slated for just 10 events, when US 95 between Council and New Meadows was shut down due to the road being washed away, the schools in Council and Cambridge could no longer attend their scheduled event in McCall without undertaking a 3 ½ hour, 195 mile journey each way. The Lottery responded to help the schools by quickly scheduling an event in the a community room/kitchen area of the Cambridge Volunteer Fire Department facility.

Like each year, teams of three compete to win prizes. However, sometimes, teams of two can be successful. Without a team leader, and one of their participants in a cast for a broken left-elbow, the team from McCall-Donnelly High School in McCall successfully won the day’s event by scratching 191 of the 200 tickets in their pack!

Several schools won close to $1,000, including Sawtooth Elementary in Twin Falls, Spirit Lake Elementary in Coeur d’Alene, Sandpoint High School in Sandpoint, Hawthorne Middle School in Pocatello, and Barbara Morgan Elementary in McCall. Seven Oaks Elementary in Eagle, though, rose above the others to claim $1,172 during the event in Boise to become one of the largest winners in Scratch for Schools history.

2025 CW Melba Jr/Sr High Hunter

Date: April 2025

School: Melba Jr/Sr High

Wish Delivered: Special Education books and supplies

Teacher Christie Hunter says " To keep the learning process engaging and effective, I plan to restructure next year's curriculum with educational materials that cater to their diverse skill levels. Utilizing MathBait will be instrumental in this endeavor. This program will not only enhance their reading and comprehension skills through literature and math story problems but also provide engaging challenges that encourage them to apply their knowledge in practical scenarios."

Wish Amount: $855.88

2025 CW Idaho Arts Charter Curd

Date: April 2025

School: Idaho Arts Charter

Wish Delivered: Desks with storage

Teacher Tracy Curd says "Stuffed like sardines! My students and I are trapped and confined daily because of the enormous and awkwardly sized student tables in our already small classroom. I am a third grade teacher at Idaho Arts Charter School, a Title One school and school district in itself that does not receive the usual funding and support that other schools do in the public school districts of Idaho. We are desperately seeking funding that could supply our class and future classes with the learning environment and appropriate seating they deserve. There are many limitations and obstacles we have tried to overcome this year due to the tables, with minimal success."

Wish Amount: $4,156.26

Jacob Hamilton

Steve Heimbigner

Chelsie Martin

Local Radio Host Wins $35,000 on Scratch Ticket

Longtime player and Lottery supporter, Kevin Mee won the top prize on the Lottery’s Cashword Scratch Game, claiming $35,000!

The local morning radio show host on 101.9 The Bull in the Treasure and Magic Valleys has won a few second chance draws from the Lottery in the past, but this time, “I really hit the big one!” he exclaimed when he contacted the Lottery about his win.

According to Kevin, he had purchased several cashword tickets to play on a stormy Saturday afternoon. He realized he had completed 9 words and quickly scanned the ticket with the Lottery’s mobile app which showed it was a winner. While Kevin was checking the Lottery’s website to see what he might have won, his wife Brenda realized Kevin had actually scratched 10 words. At the same time, they both realized the ticket was a $35,000 winner.

Along with Brenda, Kevin claimed his winning ticket alongside his poodle, Lady, the “ticket eating dog”. Yes, that’s true – Kevin’s dog, Lady, did once eat a few winning scratch tickets in the past. Luckily for Kevin it wasn’t this one worth $35,000!

“This win is an answer to a prayer to help our family,” said Kevin.

The winning ticket was sold at the ExtraMile Chevron on Fairview Avenue in Meridian near the Fred Meyer.

2025 CW McSorley Elementary Guzman

Date: April 2025

School: McSorley Elementary

Wish Delivered: Keyboards and Stylus Set

Teacher Cara Guzman says "Keyboards would be extremely helpful for our typers! In third grade, we use our iPads often and a keyboard helps them use the full screen of their iPad. Since our district updates iPads often, I find it beneficial to have a Bluetooth keyboard so I don't have to worry about the plug-in no longer being compatible with the new iPad. Stylus would be beneficial for my students so they can click on small words, easier, on their iPads. It will help them to complete work, by "working problems out" on their iPads."

Wish Amount: $969.65

2025 CW Farmin Stidwell Elementary Kerrigan

Date: April 2025

School: Farmin Stidwell Elementary

Wish Delivered: Compass Kit

Teacher Timothy Kerrigan says "In an age of digital reliance, learning traditional navigation fosters critical thinking, problem-solving, and self-reliance. Compasses provide hands-on learning opportunities that enhance spatial awareness and geographic literacy, empowering students to navigate unfamiliar environments confidently. The requested compasses and curriculum will be used for grades K-6th, serving over 500 children. These compasses will help our students understand direction, map reading, and route planning. By incorporating them into our curriculum, students develop a deeper connection to their surroundings, gaining practical experience in orienteering, land navigation, and environmental awareness. These skills promote confidence, teamwork, and resilience—key components of outdoor education."

Wish Amount: $595.00

Rebekah Vanzelf

2025 CW Barbra R Morgan Elementary Doane

Date: April 2025

School: Barbara R Morgan Elementary

Wish Delivered: Hands-on Learning Experience

Teacher Lesley Doane says "This project aims to create a hands-on learning experience for kindergarten students by raising chicks in the classroom! The students will be actively involved in the entire process, from hatching the eggs to caring for the chicks as they grow. Students will learn about responsibility, empathy for animals, and build confidence. It will also enhance critical thinking and teamwork skills as students observe, interact with, and learn about the life cycle of chickens. This ties in with our science standards on learning about animals and environmental awareness. Having new equipment for all three classes will allow everyone to participate equally."

Wish Amount: $629.70

Jessica Searles

New Library at Stanley School

Eighteen months ago, in November 2023, the Idaho Lottery visited Stanley School, at the base of the Sawtooth Mountain Range in central Idaho. The school of 24 students and three classrooms had just received a Bucks for Books award for $3,000.

During that presentation, the school staff showed Lottery representatives the “library.” The library was not a traditional space, rather it was located in the former boys shower, complete with faucets and fixtures. It was one of the more creative uses of space at an elementary school in Idaho.

It was clear the small locker and shower area had outgrown its usefulness with no room to put the new books being purchased from the Bucks for Books award. At the conclusion of the Lottery’s visit, Lottery employees mentioned that if the school ever built a real library that could house all their books, to contact them for a Classroom Wishlist to help build the school new bookcases.

The Stanley School then had discussions with their leaders at the Challis School District. There were funds available from the District to expand and modernize the school with two new classrooms, but the school needed to provide some matching funds. While discussions were taking place, the school’s staff asked how much more to add a library to the expansion. The answer, about $100,000.

So the school set out to raise funds from members of the Stanley and nearby communities. The first donors were from the Janice Seagrave’s Family Foundation. The Seagraves were from the Hailey area and split a $48 million Powerball jackpot with another family on Christmas in 1996. The fundraising efforts were a success for the small community school.

Fast forward to spring 2025. The addition to the school is complete with two new classrooms and a brand new library space. The school’s upper-elementary teacher is Sammy Forsgren. Sammy is a second-generation resident of Stanley who attended the elementary school in her youth. She now lives in Stanly and teaches in the same building she once attended as a child.

Remembering the Lottery’s offer to provide furniture for the new library, Sammy submitted a Classroom Wishlist award request for bookcases, desks, and comfortable reading chairs for the new library. Sammy: Wish granted. Shelves, seating options and a desk were shipped to the school during the winter months. Now, they adorn a bright room with south facing windows that look straight at the Sawtooth Range.

During early April, the Idaho Lottery visited the school again to see the transformation and make a formal “ribbon” cutting for the new library, which quite likely, is the most scenic school library in America.

Mega Millions Changes Begin this Weekend

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

BOISE, Idaho – Nationwide changes to the popular game Mega Millions are coming this weekend for Lottery players. Beginning tomorrow, April 5, 2025, Mega Millions will debut new features that include bigger prizes and a unique game play format. The price for each of the new tickets is $5.

As Mega Millions has experienced nationwide success, and billion-dollar jackpots become more common, there has been a growing request from players to share more of the prize money among more players. The new version of Mega Millions will do just that. The game will also provide additional benefits for Idaho public schools and buildings.

Each $5 ticket, or line of play, will include a randomly assigned an individual multiplier number: 2X, 3X, 4X, 5X, or 10X. Non-jackpot winning prizes will begin at a minimum of $10 or double the price to play; with the chance to win up to as much as $10 million for tickets that match all five of the first numbers, but not the Mega Ball.

The Idaho Lottery was created to benefit Idaho public schools and buildings. Approximately 35% of each ticket purchased by players will go directly to Idaho’s beneficiaries. Last year, Mega Millions alone contributed approximately $9.8 million, or about 11.7% of the Lottery’s record $84 million dividend.

Unless someone wins tonight’s $43 million jackpot, the jackpot from the current game will become the starting jackpot for the new game and continue to grow until someone wins it.

Players who have a winning ticket that was issued for a draw prior to the game change will still have 180 days to claim their prize from the date of the draw. Prizes won before the game change will be paid using the current prize matrix. All prizes won for the Tuesday, April 8, 2025, draw and after will be paid using the new prize matrix.

Idaho has sold Mega Millions since 2010. During that time, Idaho has recorded one jackpot winner on Mega Millions. Sixteen winners have won at least $250,000 each from playing Mega Millions. The game created eight instant millionaires in Idaho.

Draws for Mega Millions will still occur every Tuesday and Friday night at 9 pm Mountain Time. The first draw of the new game will be on Tuesday, April 8, 2025.

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ABOUT THE IDAHO LOTTERY

The Idaho Lottery responsibly provides a variety of entertaining games featuring Powerball, Mega Millions, Scratch Games^TM, and PullTabs with a high degree of integrity to maximize the dividend for Idaho public schools and the permanent building fund. Since their inception in 1989, the Idaho Lottery has sold over $5.8 billion in products, awarded more than $3.7 billion in prizes to players, returned $342 million in retail commissions, and distributed $1.273 billion in Lottery dividends to Idaho public schools and buildings. To learn more, please visit www.idaholottery.com.

Sheryl Saxton

2025 CW Riverbend Elementary Wielan

Date: April 2025

School: Riverbend Elementary

Wish Delivered: 3D Printer

Teacher Nicole Olsen Wieland says "A 3D printer would be a valuable addition to my 3rd-grade classroom by providing students with hands-on, interactive learning experiences that enhance their understanding of STEM concepts. Through 3D printing, students can design and create physical objects that bring abstract ideas to life, such as geometric shapes in math or models of ecosystems in science. This kind of tangible learning helps deepen comprehension and makes complex topics more accessible, allowing students to visualize and manipulate their ideas in real-world ways."

Wish Amount: $774.95

2025 CW Theresa Bunker Elementary Maxwell

Date: April 2025

School: Theresa Bunker Elementary

Wish Delivered: Chairs

Teacher Christina Maxwell says "Flexible seating has been proven to enhance student engagement, focus, and comfort, especially for students with diverse learning needs. I currently have four wobble stools that have been a huge hit with my students. These stools allow them to move while they work, which helps them stay focused and reduces fidgeting. However, because I only have four stools for a class of 20, students often fight over them, and some are left without the opportunity to use this helpful tool.Having a full set of wobble stools or other types of flexible seating would provide all of my students with the chance to benefit from movement, improving their ability to stay on task and engage with the lesson. Many of my students struggle with attention and sensory regulation, and the flexibility to choose their seating can help them create a learning environment where they feel comfortable and can succeed."

Wish Amount: $1093.00

2025 CW South Fork Elementary Harris

Date: April 2025

School: South Fork Elementary

Wish Delivered: Classroom Science Supplies

Teacher Jennifer Harris says "As a second-year teacher with an undergraduate degree in science, I am dedicated to creating an engaging and effective learning environment for my 4th-grade students. I aim to enhance our science curriculum through hands-on experiences and to provide essential classroom supplies that support overall student learning. By providing hands-on learning opportunities and essential classroom supplies, we can create an engaging, supportive, and effective learning environment."

Wish Amount: $650.00

2025 CW Burley Jr High Watterson

Date: April 2025

School: Burley Jr High School

Wish Delivered: 3D Printers

Teacher Renee Watterson says "The Idaho Lottery Wishlist will help me to meet the needs of my junior high students that are wanting to learn the design process (engineering) with 3D printers. I have 330+ of 580 total student body every year that wants to get into my 3D printing class. I have 2 classes per semester which is only reaching 120 students a year. I used to teach my 8th graders in their science class how to 3D print with an assignment associated with Earth Science curriculum. I quit including my science class due to how long it takes to print each students’ projects. My 3D printing class became my priority; which made me very sad that my science kiddos are missing this opportunity to learn and understand science deeper."

Wish Amount: $1847.00

Kevin Mee

Mikel Jepsen

Idaho Backroads Lead to School Music

Tucked neatly in the undulating swells of the Palouse in north-central Idaho among the sprawling fields and pine trees is the rural town of Genesee. The town lies just off US 95 between Moscow and Lewiston, away from the bustle of the main road, it’s a tight knit community and home to the Genesee School and the mighty Bulldogs.

Like the town itself, hidden away in the school is a thriving music program for the pre-K through grade 12 school. On a cold, wet spring morning, the Idaho Lottery made a special Classroom Wishlist visit to Mrs. Smith, the music and band teacher for the school. To encourage the future development of the school’s musical program, she asked for and was awarded 24 new pbuzz wind teaching instruments and five new trumpets.

The Lottery team was treated to a musical performance by the middle school band, with about 30 performers in all. They were outstanding! What a surprise to see that music, and music done well, was the very heart of the school and bustling community. For a school of 360 students, more than 10% were participating in the middle school band alone. Remarkable!

Taking a series of backroads from Genesee through Moscow to the mountains and meadows to the east, the Lottery team visited Bovill Elementary School for another Classroom Wishlist delivery. This visit was to Miss Summerfield’s second grade classroom. The small rural school has about 60 students, but her second grade classroom had a quarter of them with 15 students.

The Lottery team told the students they were from Boise. The curious students asked many questions about the big city and even offered a list of things you might find in the city like “a park,” “traffic lights,” “a zoo,” “a store,” and “big schools”.

The delivery included everything Dr. Seuss, from a complete collection of Seuss books to reading games, and Seuss-themed stuffed characters like The Cat in the Hat. After a short story-time reading to the second graders, much like The Cat in the Hat, when the story was done, it was time to put away books, games, and characters as the students had other subjects to study. These second-grade students, as part of “Read Across America Week” were each challenged by Miss Summerfield to read every single Dr. Seuss book she received by the end of the school year. Two students have already succeeded in doing so.

There are many surprises you’ll find in Idaho if you take the back roads, but you’ll never know what they are unless you venture off the main highway. And for two small towns, they were worth the extra miles.

2025 CW Butte View Elementary

Date: March 2025

School: Butte View Elementary

Wish Delivered: Math Class Supplies

Teacher Kaylee Burkhart says "Our students seem to lack in number sense and are really tactile learners so I'm asking for blocks and magnets that will help students be able to have something in their hands to move while learning. Using the blocks/magnets to identify and represent whole numbers, helping students visualize different quantities. This will support the development of strong number sense. Students will also build and break apart numbers, deepening their understanding of addition and subtraction concepts. By composing and decomposing numbers, they will enhance their ability to solve problems and manipulate quantities. Additionally, students will observe and understand patterns and relationships between numbers by stacking and rearranging the blocks, which will promote the recognition of numerical relationships and foster critical thinking skills."

Wish Amount: $803.00

Michael Scanlon

Idaho Lottery Commission Approves Advertising Services Request for Proposals

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

BOISE, Idaho – During a regularly scheduled meeting on Thursday, March 20, 2025, the Idaho Lottery Commission approved issuing a Request for Proposals seeking bids from quality and experienced advertising and marketing agencies.

“As a government entity, it is our fiduciary responsibility to evaluate the way we conduct our business activities. The Idaho Lottery is committed to good government and governance, and that requires evaluating our outsourced, contracted services,” said Andrew Arulanandam, Idaho Lottery Director. “It is incumbent for us to do our due diligence and examine all opportunities.”

Qualified advertising and marketing respondents to the RFP have until 4:00 p.m. Mountain Time on Friday, April 18, 2025, to provide the Idaho Lottery with written proposal submissions. A copy of the Advertising Services RFP may be downloaded from the Idaho Lottery’s website at https://www.idaholottery.com/p....

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ABOUT THE IDAHO LOTTERY
The Idaho Lottery responsibly provides a variety of entertaining games featuring Powerball, Mega Millions, Scratch GamesTM, and PullTabs with a high degree of integrity to maximize the dividend for Idaho public schools and the permanent building fund. Since their inception in 1989, the Idaho Lottery has sold over $5.8 billion in products, awarded more than $3.7 billion in prizes to players, returned $342 million in retail commissions, and distributed $1.273 billion in Lottery dividends to Idaho public schools and buildings. To learn more, please visit www.idaholottery.com.

2025 CW Georgetown Elementary Wells

Date: March 2025

School: Georgetown Elementary

Wish Delivered: Library Shelving

Teacher Tara Wells says "We are a small school with a small space for a library. Our shelves are full and we don't have room for more shelves. We have some small spaces where a spinning book shelf could be placed. The spinning shelves can hold up to 80 books! So with 2 of the 4-tier shelves we could add nearly 160 books to our circulation! We have money to buy more books for our library but we have no room to put the books. By getting 2 of the 4-tier revolving shelves we could add nearly 160 new books to the library."

Wish Amount: $219.98

Commission Meeting Minutes January 16, 2025

2025 CW Lewis and Clark Christensen

Date: March 2025

School: Lewis and Clark

Wish Delivered: Bal-a-Vis-x music teaching tools

Teacher Breann Christensen says "I took the Bal-a-vis-x training back in November. I really want to incorporate the techniques learned into my classes but I don't have the supplies or the budget to do so. The results they have had from this program have been amazing. It has helped so many kids, and I want a chance to share that with the learners I teach. I get to work with and teach all learners at four different elementary schools! I love being able to bring music into their lives. I prepare the most varied lessons I can think of. I try and make it so that there is something for everyone. We have some singing, some dancing, some game time, some instrument time, etc. This makes my classes more fun and gives all kids a chance to enjoy what we are doing. I really think that Bal-a-vis-x during my lessons will help that along. A big part of our standards is helping kids feel the beat. Bal-a-vis-x is very beat centered. This program helps kids focus and feel like they can accomplish anything. And not only that, but it is fun!"

Wish Amount: $885.00

2025 CW Adams Elementary Derrick

Date: March 2025

School: Adams Elementary

Wish Delivered: Art Supplies

Teacher Stephanie Derrick says "We are in need of two key resources: colored paper and enough headphones for our entire third-grade level. Many of our students experience learning challenges such as dyslexia and Irlen Syndrome, both of which can significantly impact their ability to process written material. Research has shown that using colored paper can help alleviate some of these difficulties by providing visual contrast that makes reading easier. Unfortunately, our school’s limited budget has made it difficult to provide these materials, which are crucial for our students' learning."

Wish Amount: $5544.62

Dispenser Inventory On-Counter Numbers

Proof is in the Picture – Nampa Man Claims $414,000 as Last 5 Star Draw Winner

No one wanted to believe Sean Drye, Nampa, that he had won the 5 Star Draw jackpot. Not his wife, not his mother. Sean barely believed it himself. After only playing the game for a few months, he scanned his ticket with the Idaho Lottery’s mobile app in early March and was shocked at what it said.

“Claim at Lottery.”

Excited, he told his wife he’d won a big prize. She replied, “No way!” He got a similar reaction from his mother. No one believed him.

When Sean claimed his jackpot winning prize at the lottery, he asked for photos with his oversized souvenir check to prove he had, indeed, won the big jackpot.

The proof is in the picture. Sean is the last big winner on the game 5 Star Draw as the Lottery plans to retire the game in early April.

He plans to invest his winnings and set aside savings for his young daughter’s future.

Sean purchased his winning ticket from Jacksons #181 in Nampa.

Casey Balls

2025 CW Genesee School District Smith

Date: March 2025

School: Genesee School District

Wish Delivered: Musical Instruments

Teacher Marianna Smith says "Genesee School District is a PreK-12th grade school building. Our Genesee Music program continues to pursue performing opportunities that involve our K-12 Music Program. We are in desperate need to upgrade our band instruments so every 4th -12th student has access to an instrument. Several of our students families can not afford to rent/purchase a band instrument and are only provided broken unfixable 40 year old instruments. There has been funding attempts as our music students fundraise locally and many grants are sought after, but in such a small rural town, our community resources are tapped from already supporting our sports teams, FFA, BPA, 4-H, Senior class, and the Genesee Rural Fire Department."

Wish Amount: $1963.8

2025 CW Bovill Summerfield

Date: March 2025

School: Bovill Elementary

Wish Delivered: Classroom Supplies

Teacher Kassie Summerfield says "In preparation for Read Across America Week, beginning March 2nd, I'd like to have the listed supplies to give my students a reading experience they'll never forget. I work in a small town of 198 residents, and due to our location, the resources to heighten student experiences are limited. The school I work for, Bovill Elementary, is a K-3 school. The largest class is mine, with just seventeen students. Our little school library has very few Dr. Seuss books, making Read Across America Week very dull. In the past, I've reached out to several public libraries to check out their Dr. Seuss books, but in my area, they seem hard to come by. Read Across America Week isn't what it used to be. I want to be able to help bring it to life in my school for many years to come, while encouraging my coworkers to do the same. My job is to foster the love for reading in my students, and there is no better way to do that than to show them how fun reading can really be!"

Wish Amount: $504.08

Theresa Craig

2025 CW Orofino Jr/Sr high Hill

Date: March 2025

School: Orofino Jr/Sr High

Wish Delivered: Spanish Books

Teacher Sarah Hill says "My students will increase their fluency and confidence in the Spanish language as they read their first Spanish novel. These books are specifically written for Spanish language learners to help them practice the language they know and also challenge them to increase their vocabulary and stamina around reading in a second language."

Wish Amount: $587.60

Kristi Bolton

Rainy Day Turns into Pay Day for Sandpoint Man

For some Idaho Lottery players, winning isn’t only about the prize, it’s the experience that comes with it. Such was the case for Robert Phillips, Sandpoint, who played, won, and claimed the jackpot prize of $120,800 on the Idaho-only game, Idaho Cash in mid-February.

On a stormy, rainy Monday morning, Robert arrived at the Lottery Offices after a long, soggy journey from Sandpoint to Boise. A regular player who purchases one ticket for most draw games, Robert admitted that he had won before playing Idaho Cash, but usually only $12. Of course, this prize-winning ticket also had a “12” in it with a few more zeroes behind it.

Easygoing and humble, Robert embraced his celebrity status by taking his picture with his souvenir check along with a couple of selfies, even though he still seemed reluctant to believe that he’d won.

“I’m still trying to believe this is real,” he exclaimed. “This doesn’t just happen to people.”

Robert had no immediate plans for his prize winnings but was at least looking forward to the rain letting up on his drive home so he could enjoy the scenery.

The Idaho Cash winning ticket was sold at Yoke’s in Ponderay.

2025 CW Star Middle Grubbs

Date: March 2025

School: Star Middle School

Wish Delivered: Classroom Furniture

Teacher Kailey Grubbs says "As a first-year teacher fresh out of college, I’ve poured my heart and a significant portion of my own money into creating a welcoming and effective learning environment for my students. But now that the school year is in full swing, I’ve realized there are critical resources I still need to help my students thrive.I teach 6th grade, but many of my students are working at 2nd- and 3rd-grade levels. To give them the individualized attention they deserve, a kidney table would be a game-changer. It would allow me to work closely with small groups, tailoring lessons to meet their unique needs and help them catch up academically."

Wish Amount: $1055

2025 CW Rolling Hills Public Charter Talcott

Date: March 2025

School: Rolling Hills Public Charter School

Wish Delivered: Snap Circuits kit

Teacher Marie Talcott says "I teach 4th grade in a Title 1 school. This means that we serve a high percentage of students from low income families. I am requesting these science kits to to offer my students a hands on opportunity to observe that energy can be transferred by electric currents. This aligns with the 4th grade science energy standards and supports the science and engineering practice of developing and using models. These kits comes with 28 components to create 100+ different electronic projects. These kits will be used with care and will support student learning for years to come."

Wish Amount: $495.42

2025 CW Buhl High Margulieux

Date: March 2025

School: Buhl High School

Wish Delivered: Laptops and computer supplies

Teacher Jeff Margulieux says "Within our high school robotics elective our students are able to apply technology and science concepts through engaging hands-on projects as they work together to build and design a robot. Each year our students design and build an amazing robot and compete in FIRST Robotics Competition, an inspirational and challenging program for high school students in which they learn and incorporate crucial STEM skills. In addition to building, students are responsible for coding the robot for both autonomous commands and a “teleoperated” mode in which they will use xbox controllers to maneuver the robot. For programing and robot communication requirements, we need dedicated laptops rather than students’ chromebooks. We would like to purchase two new laptops for Java programming that will replace our singular outdated laptop and allow more students to code together at the same time."

Wish Amount: $749.98

George Slane

Aiden Miller

Riley Maxwell

Bryan Soloaga

2025 CW McMillan Elementary McMullen

Date: March 2025

School: McMillian Elementary

Wish Delivered: Art Supplies

Teacher Trudy McMullen says "These items will help my classroom by providing the tools to support art education. Student will get to use their creativity, problem solving skills and learn perseverance while learning about master artists. I can remember a tiger I drew and colored in with my elementary school art teacher. I never thought I was good at art, but she encouraged me to keep trying. I was always proud of the result of that project and think about it often. I want to help create these kinds of memories with my students. Due to low socioeconomic status, many of our students do not have access to galleries, art classes, and exposure to community art events. We have an amazing opportunity to partner with community members for art education within our school walls. We utilize a program called Meet the Masters. Each month, members of the community come in and teach art lessons to each classroom. They not only do a project, but learn about master artists such as Warhol, Degas, and Monet to name a few. They are learning art vocabulary, history, elements and then they are guided in creating a piece of art."

Wish Amount: $2008.30

2025 CW Lowell Scott Middle Smith

Date: February 2025

School: Lowell Scott Middle 

Wish Delivered: Sensory items

Teacher Tessie Smith says "My classroom is a special education classroom. Many of my students struggle with sensory processing. These are all tools to help them calm their senses and make it easier to focus and learn. The game is for my social skills class. We need many games that help them interact appropriately with each other."

Wish Amount: $352.89

Julie Mosher-felts

Outdoor Learning in Sandpoint

Washington Elementary in Sandpoint literally puts the outdoors into their outdoor education. Across the street from the main building, adjacent to the play yard for the school, in a field, is a large tent that houses their Outdoor Education Classroom. Inside the tent is their learning lab and tree stump seating for every student from each classroom who visits the tent regularly – even in the winter when the students have to wear their winter coats and galoshes.

Ms. Hallie requested STEM supplies from the Idaho Lottery. In her request, she said, "At Washington Elementary we prioritize outdoor learning as a vehicle for physical and mental health and STEM learning. The requested dramatic play learning tools will be used by Kindergarten through 4th grade reaching over 250 students. Joining me in our cozy learning tent surrounded by plum trees and open skies, each individual class attends our Outdoor Education course at least once every week for 40 minutes (multiple classes join a second weekly session)."

Here are some of the impacts this Classroom Wishlist will accomplish for the students at Washington Elementary:

Use STEM methodology to build shelters and habitats for each animal

Make ecological connections that all creatures rely upon one another via the food chain for balanced population dynamics

Apply knowledge and use natural items and puppets to dramatize how the food chain works

Strengthen literacy skills using reading resources to find answers

Use critical thinking skills to solve imbalanced food chain and genetic pattern scenarios

Understand the significance of Idaho’s natural resources by making connections through dramatic play

Building a collection of dramatic play items and growing their library will enhance the program and deepen scientific inquiry lessons. These tools will be used in a specific ecology learning block as well as used year-round for many other learning opportunities.

James Apperson

2025 CW Maple Grove Parsons

Date: February 2025

School: Maple Grove Elementary

Wish Delivered: Classroom Books

Teacher Krimra Parsons says "Decodable books are an excellent tool for teaching reading, especially for beginning readers. These books are designed to provide practice with specific phonetic patterns and sight words, helping children decode words as they read. As mentioned on Charge Into Reading’s site, “Compelling storylines paired with a strict scope and sequence make for a series that children won’t just be ABLE to read, but that they will actually WANT to read.” My teaching partners and I will share the 352 decodable books in grades 1 and 2 to provide beginning readers more opportunities to read books that match our phonics focus for each week. These books would be used by at least 40 students each week for several years. These books are great tools for helping students develop the skills they need to read independently, and they can be used in both the classroom and at home. This would be an amazing supplement to our curriculum to keep kids reading!"

Wish Amount: $813.12

Robert Phillips