Video:Lottery money helps single mother go back to school

When you play the lottery, you aren’t just getting a chance to win big, you’re helping students and schools across the state.  

With your help, the lottery raised over $622 million dollars for education last year. That money goes to fund things like school construction and need-based scholarships.

Susan Parrish is one student who received financial assistance from the lottery. She decided to go back to school after she lost her job. Parrish, a single mother at the time, said she found it hard to compete for a job without a degree.

“It was time for me to go back to school so I could have a better career,” Parrish said.  “I needed to set that example for my daughter as well as provide a better life for her.”

Parrish took advantage of the nighttime program the University of Mount Olive offered. She got her Bachelor of Science in Management of Information Systems.

“Getting financial assistance from the lottery definitely helped me pursue my education,” Parrish said. “It opened up opportunities for me to get those interviews and prove myself in those interviews so I could get the job.”

Susan now works as a senior customer success manager at UserVoice.

Since the lottery started, it has raised more than $295.4 million in need-based scholarships.

You can find out how lottery dollars benefit your county by going to our website: http://www.nc-educationlottery.org .

Thank you for playing and supporting education in North Carolina!