It was a chilly afternoon in late fall of 2004, on the heels of Thanksgiving Day. With temperatures dipping below 30 degrees outside the Carrier Dome in Syracuse; inside, the feeling was electric – as the bright lights of a Class A State Championship burned hotter than ever. With the clock ticking down to 19 seconds, a group of Spartans chased history – looking to ink their names in the record books forever. Following a Shane Connolly touchdown pass to Shawn Fitchpatrick as time expired, Maine-Endwell would take home its first-ever state title on the gridiron. Helping lead the charge on the biggest stage in high school football – Devin Barton, a senior playing with everything on the line. He’d haul in eight receptions for over 100 yards, helping propel the Spartans to a historic victory.
He didn’t know it then, but the same lessons he learned in the blue and gold would eventually guide him far beyond the field, and hundreds of miles south. As meaningful as that championship was, it was the day-to-day moments - the friendships, the work ethic, the Spartan pride, that laid the foundation for everything that came next.
Devin graduated with the Class of 2005, and began his journey at Broome Community College, before transferring to Johnson & Wales University in Charlotte, North Carolina. Like many young adults, he didn’t have every step of his future mapped out, but he kept showing up, working hard, and staying open to opportunity. And it didn’t take long for one to come around, albeit a bit unexpectedly. 20 years after graduating from Spartan Country, Devin’s current success can be linked back to a small group that made their living on the ice.
“I worked for the local minor league hockey team in the Sponsorship department. I helped out with all of the sponsors, including the North Carolina Education Lottery. I developed a relationship, and it just so happened that the timing aligned that when I graduated from Johnson & Wales, the North Carolina Education Lottery had an opening on their Marketing team,” said Barton.
Devin started at the North Carolina Education Lottery as a Promotions Specialist, traveling to various events across the state. While he was enjoying the new opportunity, it didn’t take long before his curiosity, always pulling toward technology, led him deeper into the lottery’s inner workings. Over time, the passion and strong work ethic developed years earlier in Spartan Country, propelled him into leadership roles, following his time on the operations and software testing teams.
Devin would climb steadily, not by chasing luck, but by leaning into his strengths.
“I continued to grow my passion for technology and leadership which took me to being the Operations Manager and now to my current role as the Director of Digital and Online Gaming Systems,” said Barton.
Today, nearly 15 years into his journey with the NC Lottery, Devin takes pride in more than just his title. He takes pride in why he does it. When it comes to his role with the NC education lottery, the stakes are high, but the payoff isn’t money. It’s futures. Last year, North Carolina counties received $100 million in lottery funds for school construction and $50 million − $500,000 per county − for repair and renovation projects.
“We are close to approaching our 20-year anniversary of the lottery launching. It’s been such fun to be a part of the organization that every year exceeds the expectations and goals for the amount of money that we return to education. I thoroughly enjoy being able to see all of the schools that lottery funding has contributed to building and resources that the North Carolina Education Lottery has provided across the state of North Carolina.
While his path following graduation wasn’t necessarily a straight line, Devin credits his time on the gridiron and in the classroom for shaping his future.
“Determination and hard work goes a long way, and that is something I continue to apply every day,” said Barton.
As for the Spartans of today, Devin says to always keep an open mind to new opportunities.
“Follow your passion. Leaving M-E and heading to college, I never would have thought I would be working in a technology role for the North Carolina Education Lottery. Doing a job that you are passionate about is going to make it that much more enjoyable,” said Barton.
From the roar of the Carrier Dome, to the quiet clicks of code and strategy behind digital systems, Devin Barton’s journey is proof that success can sometimes find you when you least expect it, so long as you’re ready to say yes.