Idaho’s Educational Bonanza: Schools Strike Gold in Scratch for Schools Lottery

In an exciting gathering at the Ford Idaho Center this Tuesday, 92 schools gathered for the Idaho Lottery’s annual Scratch for Schools event, pocketing $31,387. The venue buzzed with anticipation as educators and parents huddled over tables laden with lottery tickets, all in the spirit of supporting educational initiatives.

This year marked the beginning of ten March events, with 480 schools across Idaho throwing their hats in the ring for upcoming competitions.

Designed as a spirited race against time, three teams – teachers, staff, or parents from each school – had five minutes to scratch away at 200 lottery tickets using shiny, plastic coin scratchers. The aim? To secure as much funding as possible for their schools.

Highlighting the event’s fun aspect, a team from Highlands Elementary School in Boise embraced the pirate theme of this year’s lottery tickets, dressing up to add to the festive atmosphere. The event showcased the participants’ competitive spirit and emphasized the sense of community among the schools, regardless of size.

Regarding strategy, veterans of the event, like fifth and sixth-grade teacher Ingrid Jungen, noted the unpredictability and excitement of each year’s challenge. The rapid scratch-off session flew by despite the pressure, leaving teams eager to tally their wins.

Bruneau Elementary School emerged victorious in the speed round, scratching all 200 tickets within the allotted time and winning $462. The top 14 schools progressed to a semifinal that involved inflatable dice, adding a layer of luck and strategy to the proceedings. Mosaics in Education Public School from Caldwell clinched the final victory, accumulating $1,167.

Since its launch in 2001, Scratch for Schools has funnelled over $1.6 million into Idaho’s public education system, underscoring the lottery’s significant contribution to enhancing educational resources and opportunities. Last year, a similar event in Nampa raised $31,105 for 91 schools, demonstrating the program’s consistent impact.

David Workman, Idaho Lottery Public Information Specialist, highlighted the camaraderie and diverse spending plans for the funds, from educational tools to playground improvements, illustrating the wide-reaching benefits of the lottery proceeds for schools.