Student, 18, Wins $1 Million; Grand Jackpot Still Stands

Eighteen-year-old John Kebreslian already has a job lined up when he graduates from Glendale High School this week--managing $1 million he won in Saturday’s California Lottery “Big Spin.”

Kebreslian showed no signs of disappointment as he and 12 other finalists were unable to capture the progressive grand prize, which now stands at $14.245 million.

Kebreslian, who is to graduate Thursday, will receive the money in annual installments of $50,000 over 20 years. He said he will give “mostly all” of the money to his parents, who spent their life savings paying his medical expenses for an eating disorder that he had as a child.

He said he could not say exactly how much they spent on his illness that afflicted him from age 6 months to 11 years.

“I can’t count, but it’s a lot,” he said.

He will also invest his winnings in a house and his college education. Although he does not know where he will attend college in September, he wants to become a computer technician.

Kebreslian is a sales clerk for J. C. Penney and received his winning entry ticket for selling a Penney catalogue.

It has been 12 weeks and 173 contestants since anyone has hit the progressive grand prize, which began at $3 million and increases $65,000 every time someone fails to capture it. There are three grand prize slots out of 99 on the wheel that the contestants spin.

“The outlook now is in two simple words: We’re overdue,” said Bob Taylor, public information officer for the lottery.

So next week, 16 finalists will try once again.