(Atlantic) Atlantic High School has received $5,000 in funding after being randomly selected as a $5K Fridays sweepstakes winner through T-Mobile’s Friday Night 5G Lights competition.
The national competition celebrates small-town football and community pride. Atlantic is one of 15 Iowa high schools selected so far, bringing the statewide total to $70,000.
Atlantic High School Activities Director Andrew Mitchell applied for the competition, hoping to build on field upgrades made possible by the school’s 2019 bond. The additional funding could help address improvements the school had originally wished to include, while supporting the facility’s long-term durability and usability. Mr. Mitchell applied for and received the $5,000 two years ago.
Mr. Mitchell says it will take a team effort to decide how to spend the $5,000 this time around. Coach Mitchell says some of the options may be a small press box on the visitors’ side for the visiting media outlets or coaches to use, or putting the money into the light show that some schools have, a video board, or maybe some additional bleachers.
Atlantic and the other participating schools are still eligible for the competition’s $1 million grand prize for a football field transformation.
More than $8.4 million is being awarded this year, including $25,000 for 40 finalists, $250,000 for four division champions and the $1 million grand prize, which will be announced November 12.
So far, 78 Iowa high schools have applied. Eligible schools in communities with fewer than 150,000 residents can apply through September 18.
Weekly $5K Friday winners will continue to be announced through September. The Top 40 finalists will be announced October 8, followed by public voting through October 25.
