Dalhart High wins $5,000 from T-Mobile
T-Mobile recently announced the return of Friday Night 5G Lights for its third season, giving small-town high schools across America more opportunities than ever to celebrate their communities and compete for prizes that can make a meaningful difference.
This week, eight more high schools in Texas were selected as $5,000 winners through the program, which gives eligible small-town high schools the chance to win funding for football field and facility upgrades, including weekly $5K Fridays prizes, regional finalist awards and a grand prize $1 million stadium transformation. Dalhart High School was one of the eight schools to win $5,000.
This year’s competition more than doubles schools’ opportunities to win, with over $8.4 million in total prizes, a new divisional bracket format and the return of the $1 million football field upgrade grand prize.
Since its launch, Friday Night 5G Lights has shown what’s possible when entire communities rally behind their hometown schools. In 2024, Inola High School in Inola, Oklahoma, population 1,900, became the inaugural champion, earning a $1 million football field transformation after capturing the support of fans nationwide. In 2025, Dierks High School in Dierks, Arkansas, population 900, followed in its footsteps, earning nearly 2 million votes with the help of its determined community and celebrity supporters to secure its own $1 million field upgrade.
Together, more than 750 schools across the country have earned prizes through Friday Night 5G Lights, strengthening hometown pride and creating lasting impact far beyond the football field.
“Over the past two years, we’ve seen firsthand what happens when communities come together to support their hometown schools, and it’s been absolutely inspiring,” said Jon Freier, Chief Operating Officer, T-Mobile. “Friday Night 5G Lights has become about so much more than football. It’s about celebrating the pride, traditions and connections that make small towns special. This season, we’re going even bigger and opening the door for more schools than ever to win because every community deserves its moment in the spotlight.”
Here’s how this year’s competition is putting over $8.4 million in total prizes on the line:
1,000 schools will win $5,000 through weekly $5K Fridays sweepstakes.
4 standout social media video posts will win a $5,000 Spotlight School award.
40 finalists will earn a place on the Division Bracket in the West, East, Midwest and South, with each team scoring $25,000 for their school plus a T-Mobile-hosted Home Game Celebration.
4 Division Champion schools, one from each division, will win $250,000, a Gronk Fitness gym valued at $90,000 and “The Big Deal” student leadership award prize of $5,000.
1 lucky finalist will win “Fan Favorite,” as voted on by T-Mobile employees, to receive an extra $25,000.
1 grand prize winner will receive a $1 million football field upgrade.
Schools can rally their communities and boost their chances of winning by sharing on social media. Every eligible post on X or Instagram using #FN5GL and #Entry while tagging @TMobile and their school counts as an additional sweepstakes entry. Fans can also show their school spirit with a new AR Gronk selfie experience, available at FN5GL.com/AR.
New to this year’s competition, a panel of judges will select 40 division finalists, 10 each from the West, East, Midwest and South divisions, based on community impact, need, creativity, school pride, social media participation and overall community engagement.
Public voting runs from Oct. 8–25, and anyone in the country can vote once per day through FridayNight5GLights.com and the T-Life app. Finalists may also earn potential bonus votes by completing social media “Spirit Week” challenges posted on the Friday Night 5G Lights website.
The four schools with the highest number of votes will receive $250,000, a Gronk Fitness gym, “The Big Deal” student leadership award for $5,000 and move on to the final Division Champion round.
Public voting for the final four schools runs from Oct. 29–Nov. 8, with the grand prize winner announced on Nov. 12.
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