The following is content from an external news source, republished with permission.
by Caity Coyne, West Virginia Watch
September 15, 2025
A West Virginia woman is celebrating this week after winning $1 million by playing the West Virginia Lottery’s Powerball.
Mary Kathryn Hernandez bought her winning Powerball ticket from a 7-Eleven convenience store in her hometown of Hedgesville, according to statements given during a news conference on Monday.
The prize came from the Powerball drawing on Sept. 6.
A spokesperson for Gov. Patrick Morrisey said, after taxes, Hernandez took home a little more than $700,000 from the winning ticket.
Hernandez did not speak at Monday’s news conference, which was hosted by the West Virginia Lottery with remarks from Morrisey. Morrisey said Hernandez is planning on using some of the winnings to go on vacation with her daughter.
West Virginia law allows lottery winners who win $1 million or more in a state drawing to remain anonymous. Morrisey said Hernandez is one of three out of the last 20 winners of $1 million or more in the state to choose to go public about their winnings.
Dave Bradley, the acting director for the state lottery, said the jackpot that Hernandez won part of totaled $1.8 billion — the second largest jackpot in history — over 42 consecutive weeks of drawings. Hernandez’s winning ticket, he said, was one of 18 total $1 million wins selected in the jackpot’s final drawing.
The 7-Eleven that sold the winning ticket to Hernandez will also receive a 1% selling bonus totaling $10,000. All retailers in West Virginia that sell a winning ticket for $500 or more receive a selling bonus.
Morrisey said he knew the Hedgesville community would be excited for Hernandez’s win. He said the money was “going to make a big difference” in Hernandez’s life and that of her family.
“I think that you’re going to become one of the most popular people in Hedgesville,” Morrisey said. “… I know a lot of the people in that community. This is going to be wonderful. People will be celebrating it.”
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West Virginia Watch is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. West Virginia Watch maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Leann Ray for questions: info@westvirginiawatch.com.
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