A Rockdale County resident and college student received the birthday gift of a lifetime after he found out he won $1 million in the Georgia Lottery.

Qasim Gill of Conyers, a 2002 Heritage graduate who will soon turn 28 years old, won the $1 million top prize playing the instant game $100 Million Cash Blast.

“It was at the bottom of the ticket,” Gill said. “All I saw was a bunch of zeros.”

Honey Creek BP, 3500 Highway 20 S.E. in Conyers, sold the lucky ticket.

“I was in a daze,” Gill said. “But ever since I woke up that morning I knew something good was coming to me.”

Gill is studying computer animation.

Feeling “awesome” about winning the lottery, Gill said he intends to pay off bills and take a vacation.

Georgia Lottery profits help pay for educational programs including Georgia’s HOPE Scholarship Program and Georgia’s Pre-K Program. More than 1.3 million students have received HOPE, and more than 1.1 million 4-year-olds have attended the statewide, voluntary prekindergarten program.