She Won $1M—Her Very First Purchase? A Master’s Degree
Worcester Woman Wins $1 Million on Scratch Ticket — Plans to Go Back to School
Updated August 12, 2026, 3:23 p.m. ET
Meet the Winner
Ashley Hurley lives in Worcester, Massachusetts. She just won a $1 million prize playing a scratch-off lottery game called “LOTERIA” from the Massachusetts State Lottery.
Fun Fact: Lotería is a traditional Mexican game similar to bingo — and now it’s a scratch ticket too!
What She Actually Gets
When you win a big lottery prize, you usually have two choices:
- Annual payments (a little bit every year for many years)
- Cash option (one big payment right now, but smaller than the full prize)
Ashley chose the cash option.
| Prize Type | Amount |
|---|---|
| Advertised Jackpot | $1,000,000 |
| Cash Option (Before Taxes) | $650,000 |
| After Taxes | Less than $650,000 (taxes take a big bite!) |
Important: The $650,000 is before taxes. The government will take a portion for federal and state taxes. She’ll end up with less — but still a life-changing amount!
Where the Winning Ticket Was Sold
Ashley bought her lucky ticket at the Mobil gas station (also called the Corner Store) located at:
635 Chandler Street, Worcester, MA
The store gets a $10,000 bonus just for selling the winning ticket!
Another Big Win in Worcester This Summer
This isn’t the first $1 million winner in Worcester recently!
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Store | Bee Zee |
| Address | 177 Southwest Cutoff, Worcester, MA |
| Winner | Flying Spirit Trust II of Newton (claimed by representatives) |
| Date | Earlier this summer (June 2026) |
Read the original story: Worcester gas station sells $1 million winning lottery ticket
What’s Next for Ashley?
Ashley has a big dream: she wants to go back to school to earn a master’s degree in social work.
Social workers help people through tough times — like family problems, illness, or poverty. With her winnings, she can now afford to focus on her education and future career helping others.
Summary
- Ashley Hurley of Worcester won $1 million on a “LOTERIA” scratch ticket
- She chose the cash option: $650,000 before taxes
- Ticket bought at Mobil / Corner Store, 635 Chandler St., Worcester
- Store receives $10,000 bonus
- Another $1 million winner sold in Worcester this summer at Bee Zee (177 Southwest Cutoff)
- Ashley plans to earn a master’s in social work
FAQ
1. What is a scratch ticket?
A scratch ticket (or “scratcher”) is a small paper card you buy at a store. You scratch off a coating to see if you won instantly — no waiting for a drawing!
2. What does “cash option” mean?
Instead of getting the full $1 million spread over 20–30 years, you take a smaller lump sum right now. For this game, that’s $650,000 before taxes.
3. Why is the cash option less than $1 million?
Because the lottery invests money to pay out the full amount over time. If you want it all now, they give you what that investment is worth today — which is less.
4. Does the store really get $10,000?
Yes! In Massachusetts, stores that sell winning tickets over a certain amount get a bonus commission — in this case, $10,000.
5. Can anyone claim a prize through a trust?
Yes. The second winner was claimed by Flying Spirit Trust II of Newton. Some winners use trusts to protect their privacy or manage money wisely.
Final Thought: A simple stop for gas turned into a life-changing moment — and a chance to help others through social work. Sometimes, luck really does scratch the surface of something amazing!