Two Happy Women From Western New York Win $1 Million Each In A Double Ceremony

DOUBLE CEREMONY: Amy McGavis (L) and Maryann Nowak (R) both received their $1 million checks from NY Lottery's Yolanda Vega.

Two western New Yorkers collected million-dollar checks after the New York State Lottery officially recognized their lottery wins.

Both 59-year-old Maryann Nowak of Cheektowaga and 82-year-old Amy McGavis of Dunkirk received their prizes from their respective lottery wins at a special presentation ceremony.

Nowak won $1 million on a $5 'Win For Life' scratch-off game, and McGavis won the second-place prize in the Powerball drawing on Jan. 6.

Amy McGavis’ victory was caught on camera as she learned of her good fortune in the Fredonia Food Mart.

The Food Mart is a family business that has been around since 1978. Olympian Jenn Suhr is the daughter of store owner Mark Stuczynski.

Amy McGavis after she learned of her good fortune in the Fredonia Food Mart.

Five out of five numbers on McGavis’ ticket matched the January 6 drawing, but the Powerball bonus number did not. Still, McGavis’ was thrilled when she found out about her winnings.

“I handed my ticket to the clerk and he told me that the store had sold a $1 million ticket and I was the winner,” McGavis said.

“After that, everything kind of faded to white because of the lights coming from the television cameras.”

The Fredonia Food Mart and Deli where the winning tickets were presented by the New York Lottery.

The victory was nothing like McGavis had ever experienced before, she said. The mother of seven, grandmother of 20 and great-grandmother of 31 now has something to leave to the next generations.

“Honestly, I felt like I was throwing money away,” she said. “You have to understand, nothing like this ever happens to me.”

Maryanne Nowak said she actually scratched off her ticket around 3 in the morning, but that didn't stop her excitement.

"I just was ecstatic, I was screaming in my house,” said Nowak.

Maryann Nowak (R), Amy McGavis (center) with New York Lottery's Yolanda Vega.

“My poor neighbors! It's like middle of the night, so 7:30 in the morning some friends came over and they validated that it was a winner," added Nowak.

Nowak, a garegiver with Assisting Angels, said she’ll use her prize wisely, to pay off debts and make home repairs. She, too, said she was shocked.

“It’s overwhelming. I feel ecstatic, blessed,” she said. “It’s a happy anxiety.”