Riley and Mishawaka High Schools Awarded $5,000 Each, Compete for $2 Million Grand Prize

Photo bysouthbendtribune

Riley High School and Mishawaka High School have each received a $5,000 boost for football field upgrades from T-Mobile as part of its Friday Night 5G Lights initiative. Both schools are also in the running for a grand prize worth $2 million, aimed at enhancing their athletic facilities.

Launched in 2021, T-Mobile’s 5G for All campaign aims to highlight its investments in rural America and celebrate the community spirit fostered by high school football. Each week, from now until September 27, T-Mobile selects 50 high schools to win $5,000. Riley was awarded the prize earlier this month, while Mishawaka was recognized in the latest round.

In addition to the immediate cash prize, both schools are competing for the coveted $2 million grand prize package, which features a $100,000 grant, a state-of-the-art weight room, a new scoreboard, consultations with field experience experts, and 5G network upgrades, along with a lively tailgate party complete with live music and a halftime drone show.

In early October, 16 finalists will be announced, each receiving an extra $25,000 grant and a celebratory event at a home football game. The finalists will create a 90-second hype video to be shared on Instagram, where the winner will be determined by community support through likes and shares. The grand prize winner is expected to be announced in early December.