Bartow, Lake Region, Lake Wales among 16 from Florida to receive $5,000
Three weeks into T-Mobile’s Friday Night 5G Lights competition, Florida schools are already putting points on the board.
Sixteen high schools across the state have each won $5,000 through the program’s weekly $5K Fridays giveaway, totaling $80,000 already awarded to Florida schools this season. And with five more weeks of $5K Fridays still ahead, more Florida communities have a chance to get in the game.
The Florida winners represent communities where high school football brings students, families, alumni and neighbors together on Friday nights. Each winning school can use the $5,000 for football program needs such as equipment, uniforms, travel costs, facility improvements or other resources that help support student-athletes and game-day traditions.
The 16 Florida schools selected so far are Bartow High School in Bartow, Bradford High School in Starke, Columbia High School in Lake City, Cornerstone Academy in Gainesville, Crystal River High School in Crystal River, Dunnellon High School in Dunnellon, Gulf Breeze High School in Gulf Breeze, Hilliard Middle-Senior High School in Hilliard, Lake Region High School in Eagle Lake, Lake Wales High School in Lake Wales, Leesburg High School in Leesburg, Real Life Christian Academy in Clermont, Robert F. Munroe Day School in Havana, Santa Fe High School in Alachua, South Sumter High School in Bushnell and Williston Middle High School in Williston.
Now in its third season, Friday Night 5G Lights supports high schools in U.S. towns with populations of 150,000 or fewer by giving them an opportunity to rally their communities and compete for prizes that can make a meaningful difference. This year, the program will award more than $8.4 million in total prizes, including weekly $5K Fridays awards for 1,000 schools, finalist awards, division champion prizes and one $1 million home field upgrade.
Florida schools can still apply through September 18 at FridayNight5GLights.com. Every school that applies is automatically entered into the weekly $5K Fridays giveaway, and communities can keep rallying support by posting school-spirit photos and videos on social media with their school and @TMobile tagged using #FN5GL and #Entry.
After applications close, schools will continue competing for a place among 40 regional finalists. Public voting begins October 8, and the grand prize winner will be announced November 12.