On Monday night, one Arkansan won more than she anticipated while playing a recently launched instant game.

Vilonia resident Kalen Rodgers recently won $350,000 with a $20 ticket for the $350,000 Cash Payout instant game. She claimed her prize at the Arkansas Scholarship Lottery (ASL) Claim Center on August 27.

The winning ticket was sold at Tobacco World of Vilonia, 1122 Main St. Suite 3 in Vilonia.

Kalen purchased the winning ticket during a short break from caring for her grandmother. Though she plays lottery games a few times each month, the Vilonia woman does not have a favorite game or store; instead, she selects her tickets on a whim.

“She’s one of those people who just feels it,” shared Kalen’s sister, Shanna, who accompanied her to the ASL claim center.

Kalen decided to purchase a $350,000 Cash Payout ticket from the third ticket bin, noting that she usually never buys $20 games.

Unbeknownst to Kalen, her $20 ticket held the $350,000 top prize.

Kalen had only scratched off the first row on her ticket when it was time to return to her grandmother. Later that night, she scratched off the rest of her ticket and thought she had won $50,000. Overjoyed, she sprinted to her grandmother’s house to share the news.

However, the Vilonia woman soon received an even bigger shock: she had actually won the $350,000 top prize.

The winner admits to lottery officials that she’s “pretty lucky”—she’s won several $500 prizes on past instant games, and she even won $100 on the same day she purchased the $350,000 Cash Payout ticket.

Nothing comes close to her new winnings, though.

“I’m so excited,” Kalen said. “I haven’t slept all night!”

Kalen also considers her win a full circle moment since her son is currently attending college with a lottery-funded scholarship. As a sophomore, he was granted the scholarship for the second consecutive year.

“I am so happy to hear that a player’s son received a scholarship funded by our lottery ticket sales,” said Arkansas Scholarship Lottery Executive Director Sharon Strong. “It’s rewarding to know that the work we do has a direct impact on the lives of Arkansans.”

The lucky winner plans to pay off all debt and “live a little” with her prize.

Following Kalen’s win, two $350,000 top prizes remain on the $350,000 Cash Payout instant game.

Visit MyArkansasLottery.com for more information about the lottery.

About the Arkansas Scholarship Lottery 

The Arkansas Scholarship Lottery (ASL) creates winning people, winning futures, and winning moments. Since 2009, the ASL has sold over $7.5 billion and returned more than $1.4 billion for scholarships to benefit Arkansas students. More than 770,000 college scholarships distributed by the Arkansas Department of Higher Education have been awarded to Arkansans. The lottery has awarded more than $5 billion in prizes to players, more than $424 million in retailer commissions, and provided more than $178 million in state and federal tax revenue.

Follow the Arkansas Scholarship Lottery on Facebook, X, formerly known as Twitter, and Instagram. Visit MyArkansasLottery.com for more information on scholarships, winners, games, odds, promotions – and to join The Club for free. To get help with problem gambling, contact the National Problem Gambling Helpline at 1-800-522-4700.

Kalen Rodgers (left) won $350,000 playing the $350,000 Cash Payout instant game. She is pictured with her sister, Shanna Sutton (right).