POST FALLS — The fireplace, the under-cabinet lights, the spacious rooms, the plentiful windows, the plush green lawn.

Every aspect of the brand-new 2,033-square-foot, three-bedroom, two-bathroom Post Falls home on Alsea Loop was exciting as Really BIG Raffle grand prize winner Steven Hephner — who goes by middle name Kyle — and his family toured their new home for the first time Thursday after Hephner's winning ticket was drawn during the virtual raffle event the previous evening.

"It's very nice, it's surreal," Hephner said. "There's a lot to go over."

A 2005 Coeur d'Alene High School graduate, past North Idaho College student and longtime Hayden resident, Hephner said he has purchased tickets for the NIC Foundation's Really BIG Raffle about four or five times in the past 10 years. Even though he didn't watch the livestream, he knew something was up as people began messaging on social media when they heard his name announced with the winning ticket.

"It was really funny because people were like, 'Do you know Steven Hephner?' and he's like, 'That's me!' because nobody knows his first name is Steven," his wife, Kelsey Chase, said.

"I was kind of waiting for the phone call," Hephner said with a grin.

Chase said she didn't even know her husband had bought a Really BIG Raffle ticket. She was in the shower when the winning ticket was announced.

"I hear the knock on the door and I'm like, 'I'm taking a shower, give me 10 minutes, leave me alone,' then Kyle's like, 'Open the door!" she said. 

Expecting an emergency, she leapt out of the shower, opened the door and asked, "What's going on?"

Hephner then revealed the urgent news and said, "I won a house!" to which Chase replied, "Wait, what?"

Thoroughly inspecting the house with them were their three daughters, Kennedy, 8, and twins Jade and Lettie, 6, who all gave the new house a thumbs up. They stretched out on the carpets, did cartwheels on the patio and wandered with wide eyes as they opened doors, peeked into closets and took it all in.

This was the 32nd year for the Really BIG Raffle fundraiser, an event that supports student scholarships through the NIC Foundation. Aside from the grand prize home, prizes include new vehicles, shopping sprees and more. Tickets were $150 this year and only 5,000 were sold. The super-popular raffle always sells out.

"This year is particularly joyful because we have local people, a local family, basically receiving a new home for their growing family," NIC Foundation Executive Director Rayelle Anderson said. "We're just so honored to be a part of helping to change lives.

Tickets are available for the 33rd annual Really BIG Raffle, scheduled for July 8, 2026.

Info: nic.edu/rbr

    Lettie Hephner, 6, enjoys inspecting the new home her dad won in the North Idaho College Foundation's Really BIG Raffle during a walkthrough Thursday.
 

    The Hephner family stands for a fireplace photo Thursday while visiting their newly won Post Falls home for the first time.