Wellington Resident receives $20,000 Birthday Present;Plans to Help Needy Families this Christmas

What better way to celebrate your birthday than winning a $20,000 top prize!  That's exactly what Patricia Ringo-Schneider did December 10, the day she turned 60 years old!  The Wellington resident purchased six of the Kansas Lottery's $2 Bonus Crossword instant scratch tickets, revealing all 10 words on one, winning a top prize.

"I buy Crossword tickets every day," said Ringo-Schneider.  "The day of my birthday, I bought six tickets and scratched a couple of them right away, but didn't win anything.  The other tickets I set aside and waited while before scratching them."

Later that night, after doing some household chores and watching T.V., she remembered she hadn't finished scratching all her tickets.

"It was probably 11:15 p.m. when I remembered I still had three or four tickets left to scratch," said Ringo-Schneider.  "On one of the tickets, I kept revealing letter after letter, but I was too nervous to look and see how much I had won until I was completely finished scratching the ticket.  Once I had finished, I couldn't believe what I was seeing.  All I could say was, 'Oh my! I just won $20,000!'"

To make sure she hadn't made a mistake on her ticket, Ringo-Schneider wrote each word on a piece of paper to double check she had indeed matched all letters in each word.

"Once I was sure I had won $20,000, I started making phone calls," said Ringo-Schneider. "Everyone I have told believes me, but there is still a little doubt in their minds.  I can't wait to show everyone my (faux) big check."

Ringo-Schneider, who has been married to her husband Jason for six years, works as a scrub tech in the surgery department at Sumner Regional Medical Center and Via Christi St. Francis Hospital in Wichita.  She feels very fortunate to have won such a large prize and has big plans for her winnings.

"First I'm going to pay a few bills," said Ringo-Schneider. "Then I'm giving 10 percent to my elderly mom and I plan to add to my grandson's college fund.  But best of all, I would like to act as a Secret Santa and help a few needy families this Christmas with groceries and gifts for their children."

The winning ticket was purchased at Casey's General Store 3059, located at 1021 W. 8 St. in Wellington.