PICKENS COUNTY — The South Carolina Education Lottery is entering its ninth year of operation, and local students are benefiting from the funds it raises.

Since the lottery first began selling tickets in 2002, Pickens County students have received $30,701,459.40 in scholarships.

The scholarship money is awarded on merit-based and need-based criteria, according to Julie Huffman, Beneficiary Communications Coordinator for the lottery.

In addition, lottery funds have provided $6,421,230.60 to the K-12 programs in Pickens County since 2002. Those funds are distributed based on student population in each county, Huffman said.

County libraries have received $355,336.49 in lottery funds. Money is distributed to the libraries based on a formula set the state General Assembly, Huffman said.

Overall, lottery funds have provided $1.33 billion in scholarship money, $549 million in K-12 money, Hoffman said.

The majority of the money raised by the S.C. Education Lottery goes back into the program to be paid out in prizes. But more than 25 percent of the money is transferred to the

Education Lottery Account to fund scholarships and other education programs.

Complete by-county distribution numbers can be found at www.sceducationlottery.com/educationwins/county.aspx.

As of Sunday, the S.C. Education Lottery features two multi-state, high jackpot games.

The S.C. Education Lottery has long been part of the Powerball drawing, operated by the Multi-State Lottery Association. Powerball awarded its largest jackpot in history of $365 million in 2006. Powerball jackpots begin at $20 million and built up with each winner until someone hits the winning number. Powerball drawings are held on Wednesdays and Saturdays.

The S.C. Education Lottery now also features Mega Millions, whose jackpots begin at $12 million. The record for a Mega Millions jackpot is $390 million. Drawings for Mega Millions jackpots are held on Tuesdays and Fridays.