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USA TODAY Co. presents check to Amarillo sweepstakes winner

At first, an Amarillo resident thought her win in a USA TODAY sweepstakes was too good to be true — but then, local sponsors showed up at her house with a big check and big smiles on Monday, June 8.
USA TODAY Co. held a nationwide Home Improved Giveaway promotion with celebrity Ty Pennington this past spring. After the contest concluded, it turned out that one of the sweepstakes winners happens to be Katie Kuhn in Amarillo, who won a $10,000 prize to make improvements to her home.
Winner was skeptical
Kuhn was in disbelief when the USA TODAY Co. Senior Marketing and Fulfillment Manager, John Coriddi, called her — thinking it was a scam. Her parents had just warned her about a scam they had gone through recently, which ended up being a big hassle.
So, of course, she was leery when they asked for her bank account information. She was then contacted by Jaime Pipkin with the Amarillo Globe-News, who assured her it was for real.
“I signed up on the USA TODAY Amarillo Globe-News email site to enter the sweepstakes … I’ve always signed up for probably 10 years,” she said. “I was so skeptical that the guy that called from USA TODAY had to get hold of Jaime to tell me it was real,” she said with a laugh. It helped that Pipkin was friends with one of her family members, and she made the call to assure her the win was real.
The giveaway included one national grand prize winner of $25,000 and a virtual home consultation with Pennington; two national second place winners of $10,000; and one national third place winner of $5,000.
The contest ran from April 10 to May 15, and participants could enter once a day. Winners were randomly selected from hundreds of thousands of entries.
Win is 'a blessing' for Amarillo couple
Katie's husband Devin said that it came at a pretty cool time in their lives and was a blessing. He said they would tithe some of the funds first and also donate to nonprofits they support.
Kuhn said that her husband was partnering with one of his friends in a business, and the winnings will help them get along with mortgage and all the things that homes need, while he gets his business up and going.
She was presented with an oversized check for $10,000 on Monday afternoon with her husband, Devin, and met with two of the local sweepstakes sponsors, from Glass Doctor of Amarillo and Two8 Construction, LLC.
Brandy Hall, with Glass Doctor, said they wanted to be part of the presentation and came over. “We do auto, home and business glass repairs, so when Pipkin approached about doing this with the Ty Pennington home improvement, it was right up our alley,” Hall said.
Hall said she always watched the show that Pennington was on and she thought it was pretty cool. Then when Pipkin called her and said that there was a local winner who won $10,000, she was really excited.Zachary Davis, project manager at Two8 Construction, said they were doing local media and paired with the Amarillo Globe-News.
“We got to be one of the sponsors in the advertising of the sweepstakes,” he said. “It’s great for us — they send out mailing lists with our information on it, and we get several leads coming in each month and it’s part of our advertisement.”
Lee said he was really happy to know someone from Amarillo had won.Katie's mother, who was at the check presentation, said when her daughter called, she said, “You’re not going to believe this …” and told her the rest of the story.

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The USA TODAY Store is offering 20% off through Memorial Day weekend

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Trisha Easto
USA TODAY
May 22, 2026, 12:47 p.m. ET
The USA TODAY Store is holding a Memorial Day sale with 20% off sitewide.
Shoppers can find nostalgic and unique gifts like collectible front page prints and historical books.
This limited-time sale ends on Monday, May 25, with no code necessary.
Memorial Day weekend is one of the biggest shopping events of the year, but instead of patio furniture or TVs, the USA TODAY Store is focusing on something a little more nostalgic. Right now, shoppers can save 20% sitewide on everything from collectible front page prints to books on the history of your favorite local spots, plus branded drinkware, apparel and gifts.
Whether you're shopping for a sports fan, a lover of journalism and all things news, or someone who just appreciates a good coffee table book, the sale includes a little of bit of everything. From iconic front page prints reliving moments like USA Hockey's big Olympics win to books documenting the impact of the Erie Canal, there are plenty of unique gift finds that feel a little more personal than your typical Memorial Day deal.
Here's a look at some of the best deals available now during the USA TODAY Store Memorial Day sale:
Save 20% at the USA TODAY Store
Memorial Day Savings: Get 20% off sitewide at the USA TODAY Store
The entire site is 20% off, no code necessary, but act fast—this Memorial Day sale ends on Monday, May 25.
Michigan Wolverines 2026 Champions Commemorative Framed Print – Detroit Free Press Edition
Celebrate Michigan’s championship journey with this official Detroit Free Press Final Four Commemorative Edition front page. Save 20% at the USA TODAY Store
Artemis Launch Jigsaw Puzzle
Bring the excitement of the Artemis II mission home with the Artemis II Launch jigsaw puzzle. Save 20% at the USA TODAY Store
USA TODAY Co. Water Bottle
Hydration is a must. Grab this stain-, shatter- and odor-resistant water bottle to take anywhere you need to go. Save 20% at the USA TODAY Store
USA TODAY Co. T-Shirt – White Logo/Unisex
Everyone needs a cozy T-Shirt to lounge in or for running errands on the go. Get this 100% ring-spun cotton T-Shirt, available in five colors. Save 20% at the USA TODAY Store
Team USA Glory: Jack Hughes 2026 Olympic Page Print
Relive Jack Hughes golden goal at the 2026 Milano Cortina Olympics; delivering Team USA's first men's Olympic hockey gold medal in 46 years. Save 20% at the USA TODAY Store
BONUS: Save up to 20% on these USA TODAY books
The Canal That Changed America: The lively history, unique communities and vital economic and social impact of New York’s Erie Canal
Readers will be introduced to charming canal towns, people and photos detailing one journalist’s 60 miles of paddling on the 200-year-old waterway in New York state. Save 20% on this Erie Canal book
"IT IS HIGH, IT IS FAR, IT IS GONE!" collectible coffee-table book
Honor the life and legacy of John Sterling with the new hardcover coffee-table book from NorthJersey.com and USA TODAY Sports. Shop our John Sterling book
Shake & Sip: Recipes from the Best Bars in America
Curated by USA TODAY, this recipe book spotlights the most celebrated craft cocktail bars from coast to coast. Save 10% when you order now
PERFECT! Indiana’s Historic Rise to the Big Ten Championship (2025-26 Season)
This 176-page hardcover book celebrates Indiana's 12-0 season, including their first victory over Ohio State since 1988 to capture the Big Ten title, their first Rose Bowl victory and first-ever National Championship appearance. Shop our Indiana coffee table book now
Red, White & Gold: How American Men and Women Became the Kings and Queens of Olympic Hockey
Two gold-medal games. Two overtime thrillers. Two 2-1 victories over Canada. One country standing alone at the top of Olympic hockey for the first time in history. Save 10% on our Team USA Hockey book
Shop more collections at USA TODAY Co. Store
Celebrate NASA's historic Artemis II Mission with this new collection
Show your hometown pride with USA TODAY's Local Pride collection
Level up your holiday gifts with USA TODAY Play hoodies, tees, more
Shop bandana collars and pet bowls for your pet at the USA TODAY Store
How long does shipping take at USA TODAY Co. Store?
Orders typically are processed and shipped within two to five business days. However, this doesn't include pre-order items, which will have their shipping estimates listed in the product description.