LA MESA RESIDENT WINS EXCEPTIONAL EDUCATOR AWARD

08.04.2001
LA MESA RESIDENT WINS EXCEPTIONAL EDUCATOR AWARD
Final Two Harley Davidson Winners Announced

SACRAMENTO -- California Lottery's "The Big Spin®" show airs Saturday, August 4, 2001, in twelve television markets statewide. Contestants on this week's show won a total of $87,500.

Assemblyman Ed Chavez presented the Exceptional Educator award to Lillian Ament at Don Julian Elementary School in Bassett Unified School District. When asked what the most exciting part in guiding student achievement in her school was, she replied, "The most exciting part about working with kids is seeing the children get excited about school, get excited about reading and just really love being there and learning." In addition, Assemblyman Chavez also presented Ament with an Assembly Resolution in recognition of her outstanding efforts as an educator.

Roberto Rivera, a landscaper from West Los Angeles, was the finalist from California Gold and went on the spin the wheel. Once at the wheel, Rivera won $30,000 and plans on spending his prize on his children's college educations. California Gold is another way to get to the wheel on "The Big Spin". The game starts with 10 contestants whose Big Spin Scratchers® tickets each revealed three "TV SHOW" symbols on one ticket. When instructed, each player pushes down a "detonator" to reveal a prize ranging from $1,750 to $4,000. Two of those contestants will reveal gold nuggets and advance to the second round of play. Once there, they compete to see who can get the closest to 10 units of "gold nuggets" in their mining car without going over. The winner of this round goes to "The Big Spin" prize wheel, while the other contestant wins $5,000.

"Twice As Grand" contestant, Asim Causevic, a tile man from San Francisco, will progress to the final round of play for a chance to win $2,000 a week for 20 years; winning a total grand prize of over $2 million. If he wins the $2 million top prize, Causevic said, "I would help my family and take care of myself." On this week's show, six contestants competed in the second preliminary round of the game moving simulated racecars along a racetrack. Of the six, one contestant, Causevic, moved on to the final round of play. Other "Twice As Grand" contestants won a combined total of $17,500 with prizes ranging from $2,500 to $25,000.

Tina Williams, a housekeeper from Inglewood bought a "Big Spin" Scratchers® ticket, which revealed three "SPIN" symbols on one ticket, that ticket entitled her to a direct trip to the prize wheel. Once at the wheel, Williams won $40,000. When asked what she would do with her prize, Williams replied, "I have no idea!"

The California Lottery sells its products through a network of more than 18,000 outlets statewide. The Lottery provides 52.7 percent of its revenues to players as prizes, 34.1 percent to public schools and 13.2 percent for administrative expenses, which includes 6.9 percent for retailer commissions. Since 1985, the Lottery has raised more than $12 billion for public schools. The California Lottery's contribution equals approximately 2 percent of the state's total education budget. "The Big Spin®" is the longest running Lottery game show in the country, airing continuously since 1985.

NAME	CITY	AMOUNT
Roberto Rivera	West Los Angeles	$30,000
Tina Williams	Inglewood	$40,000
Other California Gold Winners		$17,500

	TOTAL	$87,500

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2001 3rd Quarter Press Releases: Article