Lebanon bus driver wins $1M in PA Lottery Mega Millions drawing: 'I didn't believe it!'

April Zipp and her husband, Chester, originally drove off to BG's Value market in Jonestown as a distraction. The 58-year-old Lebanon resident said they only play the lottery once in awhile, when they have some extra money.

"I was having a bad day, and he decided that he was going to help cheer me up (and) buy me some ice cream," she said. "While we were here we bought the ticket, and the next morning on my birthday I checked the ticket. Everything changed."

After buying $20 in quick pick lottery tickets, Zipp discovered that she was the winner of a $1 million Mega Millions ticket for the Friday, April 12 drawing.

On Thursday, Pennsylvania Lottery officials and BG’s Value Market employees presented a commemorative check to Zipp and her husband. The check presentation was held at the Jonestown market on 19 Old Route 22, where the winning ticket was sold.

"I don't know what to say other than this is the best birthday present ever," Zipp said.

Pennsylvania Secretary of Revenue Pat Browne said every husband likes to give their wife a present like Zipp received for her birthday.

"By being with (April) today, It reminds everyone that if you play, you might win," he said. "But if you play, you become a part of the great human stories that are the 50-year legacy of the Pennsylvania Lottery."

After checking her ticket on her birthday, Zipp said she was in disbelief and even cried when it was confirmed by BGs Value market that same day.

"I didn't believe it. He didn't believe it," she said. "We brought it to (BG's), we made them check it three times."

Zipp added that she originally only told her children that she had the winning ticket. But after the announcement that BG's Value Market sold the winning Mega Millions ticket, people kept reaching out and asking if she was a winner. Zipp originally won $500 on a daily number ticket.

BG's Value Market has never had a big lottery winner, according to administrator Dianne Koval. The market received several phone calls from customers asking for information about the winner once news got out.

"It's nice to have a local family that shops our store be able to win and enjoy all those winnings," she said.

BG’s Value Market will receive a $5,000 bonus for selling the winning ticket.

A school bus driver for 40 years with Brightbill Transportation, Zipp drives students to school for both ELCO and the Cornwall-Lebanon School Districts. Despite her new found wealth, Zipp plans to continue driving a bus for the near future.

Zipp and her husband have already spoken to their bank about how to invest their winnings. While they want to use some of those funds to pay off bills, Zipp said they would like to buy an RV and vacation somewhere like Niagara Falls soon.

"We're definitely going to try and get away," she said. "Calm down a little bit, because life has gotten a little hectic really quick."

Zipp said the best advice she could give someone is to just go out and purchase a ticket.

"You can't win if you don't play," she said. "So take the chance if you have the extra money. It could be worth a million dollars."

Residents looking for more information about the Pennsylvania Lottery can visit palottery.com. Residents must be 18 or older to play.

Matthew Toth is a reporter for the Lebanon Daily News. Reach him at mtoth@ldnews.com or on X at @DAMattToth.

This article originally appeared on Lebanon Daily News: Lebanon PA bus driver wins $1M in PA Lottery Mega Millions drawing