A math teacher at Virginia High School, Mr. Cody White, struck gold in the Virginia Lottery's "Thank a Teacher" program on Wednesday. White was chosen at random from a pool of nearly 17,000 entries submitted by teachers who entered a unique code found on thank-you notes.
These notes, delivered by the Virginia Lottery, showcased student artwork and heartfelt messages from Virginians. Teachers who used the code on the note were eligible to win one of four top prizes of $2,500 each, along with school supplies.
According to the campaign's website, the Virginia Lottery partners with various groups each year to encourage the community to express gratitude to Virginia's outstanding public school teachers during National Teacher Appreciation Week.
The news of his win came as a surprise to Mr. White, who received it during a video call on Wednesday morning.