December 23, 2010 -- Reviewing his $2 "Lucky-4-Life" ticket for the December 20, 2010 drawing game, Marcus Alston, 27, had a “pretty good feeling” about the “Quick Pick” numbers that the lottery terminal randomly selected for him.  “They were all numbers that matched up with my family’s birthdays,” said Alston, a college student who lives in Wallingford.  When he scanned his ticket in the lottery “Ticket Checker” the day after the drawing, the message Alston received was completely unexpected.  “I was prepared to throw the ticket away, but then I saw, ‘Congratulations, you won $10,000.’  I almost fell on the ground,” said Alston with a hearty laugh.

The winning Lucky-4-Life numbers on Alston’s ticket were 07-10-11 and 15 for the December 20th drawing.  The Lucky Ball number, which Alston did not have, was 12.   

Alston immediately shared the exciting news with his friends, “I was jumping up and down and screaming,” said Alston.  Then, he called his grandmother and asked her to drive with him to the CT Lottery offices in Rocky Hill…he was a $10,000 winner.  

With his beloved Grandmother at his side, Alston arrived at Lottery Headquarters later that morning to claim his check for $6,850 (prize value after taxes).  “The sky’s the limit,” Alston said to Lottery officials.   “I just have to keep working hard and everything after that will turn out for the best.”  When asked of his plans for his winnings, Alston gave pause for thought and replied, “I’m just going to take it slowly…and put the money in the bank.”

Alston joins three other lucky Wallingford residents, who have won $10,000 playing Lucky-4-Life this year, including: Rosalina Rodriguez, Andy Postman and Christina Fishbein.  Throughout the state, a total of 153 Lucky-4-Life winners have claimed $10,000 prizes year to date.

Alston purchased his winning Lucky-4-Life ticket at Shree Ji Corner Shoppe, located on Church Street in Wallingford.