Atlantic High School just received $5,000 in funding — and it’s also in the running for a football field transformation valued at $1 million.
The school was randomly selected as a $5K Fridays sweepstakes winner through T-Mobile’s Friday Night 5G Lights, a national competition celebrating small-town football and community pride. Atlantic joins 14 other Iowa high schools selected so far, bringing the statewide total to $70,000, with all participating schools still eligible for the grand prize.
This year, more than $8.4 million is up for grabs, including $25,000 for 40 finalists, $250,000 for four division champions and $1 million toward a football field transformation for one grand prize winner, announced Nov. 12.
Atlantic High School Activities Director Andrew Mitchell applied to build on the field upgrades made possible by its 2019 bond and ensure the facility remains a source of pride and quality for students, athletes, families, and the community for years to come. If selected, funding would help address improvements the school now wishes it had been able to include originally, supporting long-term durability, usability, and the continued enhancement of the Friday night experience.
So far, 78 Iowa high schools have applied, and eligible schools in communities under 150,000 can still apply at FridayNight5GLights.com through Sept. 18. Weekly $5K Fridays winners will continue through September, followed by the Top 40 finalist announcement on Oct. 8 and public voting through Oct. 25.
