Public schools see windfall after $1-million lotto prize goes unclaimed

California public schools just won the lottery -- sort of.

The Powerball winner seen above failed to claim his $1-million prize by 5 p.m. Thursday, officials said.

The winner purchased the Powerball ticket at Rosemead Supermarket in the 8800 block of East Valley Boulevard back in September. The ticket matched every number -- 37, 6, 1, 53 and 16 -- in the Sept. 13 drawing, except for Powerball number 27 to win the whole pot.

Although the supermarket collected its $5,493 bonus for the winning ticket, the lucky winner has not claimed his winnings. The man had 180 days to claim the prize, and Thursday was Day 180.

California Lottery officials distributed surveillance video footage to drum up awareness about the unclaimed ticket.

One person came forward, saying he was the winner but had lost the ticket. He was ineligible to collect the winnings since Powerball rules require the winner have the actual ticket, said state lottery spokesman Alex Traverso.

The unclaimed winnings will be handed over to California public schools, Traverso said.

More than $20 million went unclaimed during the 2013-14 fiscal year, according to the lottery.

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