Macomb County Educator Wins Excellence in Education Award from the Michigan Lottery

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Lottery Commissioner, Suzanna Shkreli, presents Adam Kosi with his Excellence in Education check.

Lottery Commissioner, Suzanna Shkreli, presents Adam Kosi with his Excellence in Education check.

A Macomb County educator known for removing barriers for his students to participate in band has been honored with an Excellence in Education award from the Michigan Lottery.

The award winner, Adam Kosi, teaches band at L’Anse Creuse Middle School-East. The school is part of L’Anse Creuse Public Schools.

The Michigan Lottery established the Excellence in Education awards in 2014 to recognize outstanding public-school educators across the state during the school year.

Winners of the weekly award receive a $2,000 cash prize. At the end of the school year, one of the weekly award winners will be selected to receive the Lottery’s Educator of the Year award and will receive a $10,000 cash prize.

Each winner also is featured in a news segment on the Lottery’s media partner stations: WXYZ-TV in Detroit, FOX 17 in Grand Rapids, FOX 47 in Lansing, WNEM-TV in Saginaw, and WWTV-TV in Traverse City. The news segment featuring Kosi will air this evening.

“Providing students with opportunities to express themselves through music is an important aspect of their education journey,” said Lottery Commissioner Suzanna Shkreli. “Mr. Kosi is proof that teachers have a tremendous and lasting impact on their students, and he goes to great lengths to make sure music education is accessible to everyone at L’Anse Creuse Middle School-East.”

Kosi’s experience in band inspired him to pursue a career in education.

“I chose to pursue a career in education because of the profound impact my band teachers had on me. Their guidance and ion for music inspired my own love for the art, and I knew I wanted to share that joy with others. Teaching offered the perfect combination of challenge and fulfillment, allowing me to inspire students, foster their creativity, and help them discover the creativity and power of music, just as my mentors once did for me.”

Kosi was nominated for the award by a colleague.

“Adam is a phenomenal teacher and human being. He is the band director and teacher at L’Anse Creuse Middle School-East and he has built the program into an incredible opportunity to connect kids with music to help them express themselves. As a school community where we have many families that struggle financially, Adam doesn’t let the economic burden of buying a band instrument stand in the way. He works with local music stores to lease and rent equipment and get the cost down so any student has access to band. The students in band love the and comfort he brings to them as they learn music and grow in their own self confidence. Adam routinely has former students come back to middle school to work and help the band students which is a testament to his relationships with kids and the community he builds. This year he was able to guide the eighth-grade students to the first ever one rating in the history of the school at the Michigan School Band and Orchestra Association competition. The legacy he builds daily is unmatched and he is an asset to the students and to the community. He is what excellence in education is all about. He will truly do anything for anyone and always puts kids first.”

Kosi earned bachelor’s degree from Eastern Michigan University and a master’s degree from Saginaw Valley State University. He has been an educator for 24 years, the last six in his current position.

Excellence in Education award nominees are evaluated on the following criteria:

  • Excellence – Their work consistently helps students and/or their schools or school districts advance to higher levels of academic achievement.
  • Dedication – They consistently go above and beyond expectations to help students succeed.
  • Inspiration – Their work inspires others around them to exceed expectations either academically or professionally.
  • Leadership – They demonstrate clear leadership skills in their positions with their school or school districts.
  • Effectiveness – The nominee’s work has clear and positive results on the educational advancement of students within the school or school district.
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Kent County Lottery Club Wins $2.86 Million Lotto 47 Jackpot from the Michigan Lottery

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Winning TicketA three-person lottery club from Kent County hit big, winning a $2.86 million Lotto 47 jackpot from the Michigan Lottery.

The lottery club matched the numbers drawn in the Nov. 27, 2024 Lotto 47 drawing – 08-10-20-21-34-35 – to win the big prize. They bought the winning ticket at the Coit Libation Station, located at 3700 Coit Avenue Northeast in Grand Rapids.

“We have been playing together for about two years,” said the club’s representative. “The night of the drawing, I checked the numbers around 10 p.m. and realized we had won. At first I text the other club and then thought I should give them a call so they knew I wasn’t just playing a trick on them.

“We have known each other for many years but formed a lottery club just two years ago. It’s a really amazing feeling to hit a huge jackpot like this together!”

“The only thing better than winning a Lotto 47 jackpot is winning it with your friends,” said Lottery Commissioner Suzanna Shkreli. “Congratulations to the three of the CMS Group lottery club on this huge win!”

The club recently visited Lottery headquarters to claim their big prize. They chose to receive the prize as a one-time lump sum of about $2 million rather than annuity payments for the full amount. Each member received a check for about $475,000 after taxes.

With their winnings, the club plan to pay bills and save for an earlier retirement.

Each Lotto 47 play is only $1. Players select six numbers from one to 47 for a chance to win a jackpot starting at $1 million and that grows until someone wins it. For an additional $1 per play, Double Play may be added to a Lotto 47 ticket, giving players a second chance to win up to $1.5 million in the nightly Double Play drawing. For an additional $1 per game, players may add EZMatch to their ticket for a chance to win up to $500 instantly. Lotto 47 drawings take place on Wednesday and Saturday at 7:29 p.m. Tickets may be purchased at a retailer or online at Michiganmilotteryconnect.casinowinning.net until 7:08 p.m. on the day of the drawing.

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Tuscola County Woman Wins $1 Million Mega Millions Prize

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Keeping a watchful eye on the Mega Millions jackpot led to a Tuscola County woman winning a $1 million prize from the Michigan Lottery.

“I don’t play Mega Millions all that often, but when the jackpot gets high, I will buy a ticket here and there,” said Shannon Dominowski. “Back in November, I was in my Lottery and happened to see the jackpot was growing so I bought a ticket.

“The next day I logged in to my and I was absolutely floored when I saw that I had won $1 million! It is life-changing for me and my family.”

“Congratulations to Shannon and her family on becoming Michigan’s newest millionaire,” said Lottery Commissioner Suzanna Shkreli. “The excitement of logging in to your Lottery and seeing that you have a huge prize waiting for you is unmatched!”

Dominowski, 37, matched the five white balls in the Nov. 8 Mega Millions drawing to win $1 million: 25-28-42-64-69. She bought her winning ticket online at Michiganmilotteryconnect.casinowinning.net.

Dominowski recently visited Lottery headquarters to claim the big prize. With her winnings she plans to invest for retirement.

Mega Millions drawings take place each Tuesday and Friday evening. Each Mega Millions play is only $2. For an additional $1 per play, players have the opportunity to add a “Megaplier” that can multiply non-jackpot prizes by up to five times. Mega Millions tickets are sold in 45 states, Washington D.C., and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

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Wayne County Man Wins $500,000 Playing Michigan Lottery’s VIP Cashword Instant Game

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Winning TicketA Wayne County man turned a tough day into a memorable one after he won $500,000 playing the Michigan Lottery’s VIP Cashword instant game.

“I bought this VIP Cashword ticket on the day of the Lions’ playoff game,” said the lucky player, who chose to remain anonymous. “Of course, everyone knows how the Lions game went but scanning the ticket and seeing I won $500,000 took some of the sting away!

“It still doesn’t feel real that I won, but I am very excited to be able to help family and then tuck some money away for myself.”

The player bought the winning ticket at the Marathon gas station, located at 22063 Ryan Road in Warren.

Players have won more than $13 million playing Lincoln which launched in October 2024. Each $5 ticket offers players a chance to win prizes ranging from $10 up to $500,000. More than $39 million in prizes remain, including two $500,000 top prizes and 36 $1,000 prizes.

In 2023, Lottery players won nearly $1.8 billion playing instant games.

Lottery instant games may be purchased at retailers across the state.

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Wayne County Man Wins $1.3 Million Lotto 47 Jackpot

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Winning TicketA Wayne County man called winning a $1.3 million Lotto 47 jackpot from the Michigan Lottery a “dream come true.”

The lucky player, who chose to remain anonymous, matched the winning Lotto 47 numbers drawn Jan. 8 – 04-08-17-28-36-43 – to win the game’s $1.3 million jackpot. The player bought the winning ticket at Mac’s II Inc., located at 22399 Northline Road in Taylor.

“I have played this set of numbers for four years,” said the 54-year-old winner. “I scanned my ticket on the Lottery app and saw the confetti fly and thought: ‘This is a dream come true!’ Winning is a great feeling and gives me and my family financial freedom.”

“The Lotto 47 game was incredibly lucky for players last year, with eight players winning the game’s jackpot,” said Lottery Commissioner Suzanna Shkreli. “It looks like that luck is continuing into 2025! Congratulations to the lucky player and his family on their big win!”

The lucky player recently visited Lottery headquarters to claim his big prize. He chose to receive his prize as a one-time lump sum payment of about $901,000, rather than annuity payments for the full amount. With his winnings, the player plans to pay bills and take an extended family vacation.

Each Lotto 47 play is only $1. Players select six numbers from one to 47 for a chance to win a jackpot starting at $1 million and that grows until someone wins it. For an additional $1 per play, Double Play may be added to a Lotto 47 ticket, giving players a second chance to win up to $1.5 million in the nightly Double Play drawing. For an additional $1 per game, players may add EZMatch to their ticket for a chance to win up to $500 instantly. Lotto 47 drawings take place on Wednesday and Saturday at 7:29 p.m. Tickets may be purchased at a retailer or online at Michiganmilotteryconnect.casinowinning.net until 7:08 p.m. on the day of the drawing.

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