2025 CW South Fork Su
Date: October 2025
School: South Fork Elementary
Wish Delivered: Classroom Chairs
Teacher Junsong Su says "The chairs in our 4th-grade classroom have been in use since the school was built, and they are now in poor condition. Many are falling apart—the feet are coming off and scratching the carpet, and the seats are detaching, making them unsafe and uncomfortable for students. This not only poses a safety risk but also disrupts the learning environment. To support our students’ education and well-being, we are requesting funding to purchase 30 new navy blue chairs to replace the broken ones. These new chairs will provide a safer, more comfortable, and visually cohesive classroom setting, helping students stay focused and engaged in their learning. Your support will make a meaningful difference in creating a better educational experience for our students."
Wish Amount: $1,603
2025 CW Declo Elementary Hill
Date: October 2025
School: Delco Elementary
Wish Delivered: HVAC System Unit
Teacher Amanda Hill says "Declo Elementary classrooms frequently exceed 90°F during the warmer months, which makes it nearly impossible for students to concentrate or engage fully with their lessons. By providing climate control, these HVAC units will create a comfortable, focused environment where students can excel academically without the distractions caused by heat. During wildfire season, smoke from surrounding states fills the air, but we currently have no way to filter it out. The HVAC units will not only provide necessary heating and cooling but will also improve air quality by filtering out harmful particles, ensuring that students and staff are breathing safe, clean air. By funding these HVAC units, Idaho Lottery would be making a lasting investment in the health, comfort, and academic success of our students."
Wish Amount: $5,879
2025 CW Middleton Middle Harris
Date: September 2025
School: Middleton Middle School
Wish Delivered: Project based learning materials
Teacher Amanda Harris says "As a STEM educator, I believe students learn best when their ideas move beyond paper and into their hands. My classroom thrives on project-based learning where middle school students design, test, and refine real solutions to real problems. The challenge? With 30+ students eager to build, managing tools safely and ensuring every child gets meaningful hands-on time can be difficult. That’s why I’m requesting 10 ChompSaw Maker Bundles from ChompShop. These tools are designed for safe, accessible prototyping, rated safe for children as young as three, while still offering the industry-related skills my students need as young engineers and inventors. Each bundle includes the ChompSaw, Inventor’s Workbook, and accessories that allow students to cut, punch, and score cardboard with precision."
Wish Amount: $2,541
Commission Meeting Minutes July 15, 2025
2025 CW Madison High Lauritsen
Date: September 2025
School: Madison High School
Wish Delivered: Art supplies
Teacher James Lauritsen says "Each year, I teach nearly 250 students. I try so hard to supply them with a variety of ‘trying’ opportunities. I feel it’s so important to have them try new things. Some of the kids repeat my class a few different times to keep growing. I don’t like repeating projects and assignments because of that. The value of learning and the ‘buy in’ decreases for those who have already done an assignment before. I continue to modify and find new projects to help them learn the principles and elements of art and to continue to improve, reach, and grow."
Wish Amount: $1,404
2025 CW Falls Valley Baker
Date: September 2025
School: Falls Valley Elementary
Wish Delivered: STEM materials and Classrooms supplies
Teacher Michelle Baker says "As a second-year teacher, I have a better understanding of the materials students need to develop a deeper understanding of their academic concepts. The teacher before me left many school supplies that were well-loved, and continued to be loved by my previous years' students. These supplies are in dire need of replacement to best facilitate learning. Not only do students need to have supplies, but some of the tools students use to explore and create are made by me. Some of the materials would help facilitate these teacher-made resources. Another important aspect of facilitating learning is recognizing each student’s unique abilities and needs. Since each student has various needs, tools to support intervention and accommodation are required. I felt I learned so much in my first year about accommodating different needs. I included tools such as sensory needs, timers, a to-do list, and a way to communicate various accommodations with parents. These supports will help all types of learners in my classroom."
Wish Amount: $1,981
2025 CW Sunnyside Elementary Jones
Date: September 2025
School: Sunnyside Elementary
Wish Delivered: Sensory Supplies
Teacher Nichole Jones says " Understanding the need for engaging opportunities for young learners to play/learn, I try to fill my classroom with items that will facilitate this. The truth is, however, because Idaho is so cold for six of the nine months we are in session, and because it takes far too long to get kindergartners dressed warm for the weather, we spend many of our recesses inside. Being inside, however does not have to be stifling or sedate."
Wish Amount: $502.90
Recess Equipment for Maxine Johnson Elementary in Parma
Ask any young student and they will often say the most important part of any school day is recess – the time to get outside, run, and play.
Maxine Johnson Elementary in Parma is a K-4th grade school, sharing their playground with 5th and 6th graders. But what works for the older students may not necessarily work for the kindergartners. Some of the equipment designed for the older students cannot be used by the youngest students; often leaving them out of play opportunities.
“We noticed an increase in students starting Kindergarten with diverse levels of skill and social needs,” explained Becky Fogg, one of the school’s kindergarten teachers. “This year we had two boys who were autistic and non-verbal. These boys struggled to make friends since they couldn’t communicate like the other kids. They had sensory issues as well and often wouldn’t even come to recess if there was a little bit of wind or if the grass was wet. As we started to introduce more interactive toys and activities on the playgrounds, these boys really started to come out of their shell. Watching them play in the sand and chase bubbles with the other kids was truly amazing.”
Playtime led to better classroom behavior and more academic success in the classroom.
This fall, the school has four new students with similar needs.
“With these special needs students, we would love to get an early start on bridging that gap not only in the classroom but on the playground as well,” added Ms. Fogg.
All the playground and play materials in their wish list include items that can be utilized individually as well as in a group setting. These tools will impact the entire kindergarten class which has between 75 to 90 students per year.
“This will give each child, regardless of their social level or physical/sensory needs, an opportunity to play. It is our goal as teachers to build strong personal connections with these kids, and these toys/tools will allow us more opportunities to do so.”
Congratulations to Maxine Johnson Elementary. Classroom Wish List for $1,904 worth of new playground equipment and storage granted!
2025 CW Edahow Elementary Hobson
Date: August 2025
School: Edahow Elementary
Wish Delivered: Classroom Supplies
Teacher Samantha Hobson says "As I prepare for my second year teaching kindergarten, I’ve gained valuable insight into what this age group needs most—clear structure, personal space, and effective classroom organization. With this grant, I am requesting essential materials to help build a more functional and supportive classroom environment: a teacher desk, filing boxes, filing folders, cubbies, and cubby bins. These items will greatly enhance classroom management and help create a space where young learners can thrive. After completing my first year in kindergarten, I now understand how vital proper storage and organization are for both students and the teacher. Our current cubbies are too small to hold backpacks, coats, folders, and other daily items, which leads to clutter, misplaced belongings, and a loss of instructional time. Additionally, I currently do not have a proper desk or system for organizing student paperwork, lesson materials, and classroom resources. These gaps have made managing the classroom more difficult than necessary."
Wish Amount: $920.83
2025 CW Greenacres Elementary Domitzl
Date: August 2025
School: Greenacres Elementary
Wish Delivered: 3D Printer
Teacher Pam Domitzl says "I am starting a STEAM Lab at Greenacres Elementary. This is a dedicated space for students to be hands-on with science, technology. engineering, art, and math. This is a brand new program for us so we need everything from furniture to supplies. We have 2 classes for all grades K-5 as well as 3 ERR classrooms. All classes will have a dedicated 1 hour time slot every week. We will also have 6-8 hours of extra time available each week that teachers can use for special projects and events. We are a Title 1 school and a large percentage of our population does not have access to these types of programs in their home lives. All students need the opportunity to be hands-on with the information they are learning. This program will extend and expand the learning opportunities for nearly 300 students!"
Wish Amount: $3,986
Lucky Bug Cashword Winner
Ray Bachman and his wife are two lucky bugs. Literally. Married for 35 years, the couple had been inseparable until this past spring when Ray’s wife became ill and spent 29 days in the hospital.
“That was really hard for us. When I’d go hunting fishing, or camping, she’d come with me. We were inseparable,” Ray told the Lottery. “Not just being away from each other, but we also have mounting medical bills.”
Ray’s wife has always been a regular lottery player. But after she made a recovery and returned to work, she had to change stores from her usual location on her way to work because it is undergoing reconstruction and is currently closed for a remodel. Instead, she went to the Stinker Store on Garrity in Nampa. The day before Ray claimed the prize, she purchased the winning Lucky Bug Cashword ticket, played it during her lunch break, and thought she had won $1,000!
Excited, she called her husband. When he got the ticket and looked it over, they had just one question: “How many words do we have?” Turns out she had missed a letter and had won $50,000!
Adorned in his Idaho Lottery 35th Anniversary t-shirt, he claimed the winning prize for he and his bride with the plan to pay off their medical expenses.
For Ray, he’s just happy his wife made a full recovery and the two were back together again.
Jerri Daniels
Milissa Leonard
Walter Hernandez
David De La Cruz
Thomas Ladue
Gary Miller
2025 CW Mary McPherson Steiner
Date: August 2025
School: Mary McPherson Elementary
Wish Delivered: Classroom Furniture
Teacher Dusti Steiner says "This year in 2nd grade, we are expected to have some of the biggest class sizes yet! Typically, small groups would have 4-5 kids in each group. However, starting this year, we are anticipated to have 6-8 kids in each group. My small group table is very squishy with 5-6 kids, so going up to 8 kids in a group means not everyone will have an ideal seat at the table. I would love to have an upgraded table to be able to fit 6-8 kids more comfortably! I am also asking for some smaller individual whiteboards with lines that we can use during small group instruction. The cherry on top of this grant is the touchscreen monitor. When our district switched from projectors to televisions, we lost the ability to interact with slide shows. I would like to be able to connect my laptop to a touchscreen laptop during small groups so that students can physically interact with the lessons again. These three items would make a huge difference in our classroom"
Wish Amount: $611.98
2025 CW New Plymouth Elementary Steers
Date: August 2025
School: New Plymouth Elementary
Wish Delivered: Tables and Classrooms supplies
Teacher Felicity Steers says "As one of the current third grade teachers, I want to do everything I can to make sure this transition feels smooth, supportive, and successful. That’s why I’m submitting this Classroom Wishlist—to help provide the essential items that will make this new classroom feel welcoming, purposeful, and ready for learning. One of the biggest needs is tables. In third grade, students benefit greatly from collaboration, and tables make it easier to work in partners or groups, move around the classroom, and support small-group instruction. This kind of flexible seating helps create an engaging and student-centered learning environment."
Wish Amount: $2,368
2025 CW Ponderosa Elementary Orr
Date: August 2025
School: Ponderosa Elementary
Wish Delivered: Classroom Supplies for Deaf Students
Teacher Brittany Orr says "I am Ponderosa's Teacher of the Deaf. The students I teach range between Kindergarten and 5th grade and are unique because they are Deaf. Children who are Deaf or hard of hearing often face significant barriers in acquiring language and literacy, especially when traditional auditory-based instruction is the norm. Our goal is to close this gap by implementing visual and tactile educational tools that align with how Deaf children most effectively process information—through sight, motion, and pattern recognition."
Wish Amount: $199.95
Woman Wins Lottery, Wants a Dog
All Barbara Ashley Musbach wanted was to get a dog. She had been trying to convince her mother to help her financially to get the dog she wanted, even offering to pay her mother back.
“Mom, I’m good for it. I just won $5,000 on a Lottery game!” Barbara Ashley told the Lottery she’d said to her mother. “I’ll be able to pay you back.”
Being a doubter, Barbara Ashley’s mom couldn’t believe her daughter had actually won the Lottery. After a conversation with Lottery officials, her mom became a believer.
Indeed, Barbara Ashley won $5,000 on the Lottery Scratch Game Ultimate Bingo from a ticket she purchased at Stinker Petticoat, Stinker Store #39 in northwest Boise by Old Horseshoe Bend Road.
Her dream of getting a dog could now become a reality.
2025 CW Maxine Johnson Elementary Fogg
Date: August 2025
School: Maxine Johnson Elementary
Wish Delivered: Recess supplies
Teacher Becky Fogg says "Recess is a huge part of the school experience! We are a Title One school that serves a variety of students. While our building is a K-4th grade building, we do share our playground with 5th and 6th graders as well. Our little Kindergarten students aren’t able to use equipment or participate in some of the activities that our 5th and 6th graders can. We feel fortunate to be a school that provides full day Kindergarten. In some ways it has been a struggle but we feel blessed that we now have more time to allow the kids to play, interact with their peers and watch their imaginations flourish."
Wish Amount: $1,904
Bruce Davidson
Harry Eccard
Money Monster Social Promo
Guess the Monster Jackpot
September 15 – October 31
Think you can predict the jackpot? Each week, guess Friday’s rolling Money Monster Jackpot! The five closest guesses win 10 entries into the 2nd Chance drawing, and if you guess the exact amount, you could WIN a Nintendo Switch 2 or $500! New guesses open each week, and weekly winners are announced on Fridays. Get in on the fun and see if you can outsmart the Money Monster!
Name the Monsters
September 22 – October 11
Our three Money Monsters need a name and a backstory! Each week, we feature one monster and ask you to get creative. The most imaginative entry wins $35 in Monster Jackpot tickets + a $50 Amazon gift card! One winner per monster is selected each week. Share your clever names and backstories to bring our monsters to life!
Pile of Tickets
September 22 – 28
Celebrate the first day of fall with a quick-turn social contest! Follow our page and comment on the designated post for a chance to win a pile of scratch tickets worth $200. One lucky winner will be selected, let the fall fun begin!
Pumpkin Carving Contest
October 12 – 27
Get creative this Halloween! Carve pumpkins with our Money Monster stencils, or your own spooky designs, and submit your masterpiece. Our team will judge entries and select three winners: Winning designs will be showcased on the Lottery’s website and social channels. Show off your skills and make your pumpkin part of the Monster Jackpot fun!
Check out our social media links below to know about all of our scary Money Monster Jackpot events!
2025 CW Kootenai Classical Academy
Date: August 2025
School: Kootenai Classical Academy
Wish Delivered: Classroom supplies
Teacher Deborah Coons says "As a charter school we receive very limited funds through the state and only a $50 classroom budget from our district to purchase materials. Any funds allocated to our school from the state are used for other resources and any fundraising we do has been used to fund the middle school wing of our building. This means that nearly all classroom materials—from pencils and paper to learning tools and curriculum we are to teach every day—are purchased out of our own pocket or through parent donations."
Wish Amount: $2,717
Ray Bachman
Boise Man’s Cash Spectacular Cash Win
Winning the Lottery is always spectacular, but for Brian Turk from Boise, winning was truly “Cash Spectacular”!
A regular player, Turk added Scratch tickets to his purchase during a weekend stop at the Liquor Store on Vista Avenue in Boise. It was a good decision. Turk won the first $100,000 top prize in the Scratch Game $100,000 Cash Spectacular.
“I’ve never won more than $500 before. This is exciting!” exclaimed Turk when he claimed his big prize from the Lottery. “I’m going to pay off my truck and my boat and still have a little over.”
According to Turk, he really would like to get a Harley Davidson motorcycle, but his wife won’t let him until he pays off the boat.
Paying off the truck, the boat and getting a Harley? That’s not just spectacular, that’s Cash Spectacular!
2025 LYS Timberline High School Ward
August 2025
Timberline High School,
Boise
Donated By: Christopher Ward
Millionaire Maker Won in Nampa
The final Millionaire Maker scratch game top prize was claimed from a ticket sold at Big Smoke in Nampa on Franklin.
The winners who claimed the ticket were Breezy Legs, LLC from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. These players who engage in Lotto Tourism made a summer trip to Idaho to find and play the game. In the state for a couple of weeks, the team of four visited every corner of Idaho looking for available tickets.
“We love Idaho and the Idaho Lottery. The state is so beautiful and everyone is really friendly,” said one of the members.
The team visited 31 towns in Idaho, from St. Anthony to Malad, Twin Falls to Payette and McCall to Sandpoint. “All the store clerks everywhere are always helpful. Hands down, Idaho has the best stores for Lottery,” they said.
For selling the winning ticket, Big Smoke received a bonus of $20,000.
Barbara Ashley Musbach
Money Monster Winner Table
| DATE | NAME | LOCATION | PRIZE |
|---|---|---|---|
| 9/9/2025 | Laura Hutcheson | Nampa, ID | $500 |
| 9/16/2025 | Esta Bourgoin | Meridian, ID | $500 |
| 9/23/2025 | Patti Faulkner | Spirit Lake, ID | $500 |
| 9/30/2025 | Ed Beurer | Eagle, ID | $500 |
| 10/7/2025 | Angela Huggins | Meridian, ID | $500 |
| 10/15/2025 | - | - | $500 |
| 10/21/2025 | - | - | $500 |
| 10/28/2025 | - | - | $500 |
| 11/4/2025 | - | - | Jackpot |
Tyler Parlin Jr
Joann Jensen
Brian Turk
2025 CW Reed Elementary Dixon
Date: August 2025
School: Reed Elementary
Wish Delivered: Classroom supplies
Teacher Chris Dixon says "These Items will help with STEM in my classroom and with my Lego League Students during all of the Year and at competition times each April. We are in a school that is over capacity and storage is limited so the Storage bins and shelves will help us out so much! The extra art items and glue gun will help so much for the posters that our Lego league students have to make to show their journey throughout the year and the hard work we put in. They will also help my classroom students with projects and posters that we make throughout the school year. It will also help teach the fundamentals of coding as a youth! This really brings a lot of confidence and happiness to children who are not able to do it themselves."
Wish Amount: $2,324
Building Relationships
Tucked into a hill on the western edge of St Maries is the Idaho Department of Lands newly constructed St. Joe Area Field Office. On a warm, sunny day in early July the new facility and fire response station stood ready to deploy as many as eight crews to respond, if necessary, to any lightning strikes on this red flag day.
“Our goal is to be able to keep any wildfire to just ten acres, so they don’t get out of control,” said Michelle Andersen, Deputy Director, Idaho Department of Lands. “Having the facilities and resources to respond quickly to any potential fire threat is vital to protect our forests and the public.”
The new facility was built through the project management of the Division of Public Works in the Department of Administration and funding from the State of Idaho’s Permanent Building Fund.
“We build more than buildings. We build relationships,” said Dale Reynolds, Director of Public Works. “We want to provide the best possible facilities for our other State agencies so they can get their work done to the best of their ability. And that takes a lot of time, dialogue, and understanding of how agencies work and what they need.”
By early July, this district had already responded to 22 fires. Only one was caused by lightning. The rest were human caused.
The work of the Division of Public Works is performed in conjunction with the State of Idaho’s Permanent Building Fund and their Advisory Council. The Idaho Lottery contributes 3/8 of its annual dividend to the Permanent Building Fund every year.
The bulk of the state’s permanent facilities are on the Gem States college campuses. Annually, the Permanent Building Fund Advisory Council tours state facilities and campuses across the state to see the current work underway and assess future needs for facility improvements and upgrades.
“We have a large need for completing deferred maintenance projects, along with alterations and repairs,” added Reynolds. “Our focus is to get our current buildings more modern.”
That amount of work was evident when the tour visited the campus of North Idaho College (NIC) in Coeur d’Alene. From the renovations to food services and other facilities in the Student Union and basketball arena, to the HVAC upgrades and complete overhaul of their administration facility, to the recently completely and modern Meyer Health Sciences Building, NIC had summer construction projects on nearly every corner of campus.
The same was true for the University of Idaho campus in Moscow, where additions were being made to their new medical school, housing improvements and development was well underway, and historical restoration was being completed on the oldest buildings on campus along Presidential Grove.
Perhaps the most compelling project of all was the work completed to the JW Martin Agricultural Engineering Building with the inclusion of new soil monitoring silos to scientifically study and provide nutrient analysis on soil core samples of up to 14 feet deep – the only facility of its kind in the world.
It's projects like these that Idaho Lottery dividends support every year. According to Reynolds, the Idaho Lottery is frequently the largest financial contributor to the Permanent Building Fund. This year the Idaho Lottery returned $28,125,000 to the Permanent Building Fund. And since the Lottery was created in 1989, more than $560 million has gone back to support buildings and campus facilities across Idaho.
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.
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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 $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
2025 LYS Meridian High School Tucker
July 2025
Meridian High School,
Meridian
Donated By: James Tucker
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.
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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.
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
2025 LYS Alturas Preparatory Academy
June 2025
Alturas Preparatory Academy,
Idaho Falls
Donated By: Daryl Opperman
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
2025 LYS Dennis Technical Education Center O’Lalor
May 2025
Dennis Technical Education Center,
Boise
Donated By: Maureen McCall O'Lalor
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.
