South Kitsap High School has been named one of the top 25 nationwide finalists in T-Mobile’s Friday Night 5G Lights competition, earning a $25,000 grant and a chance to win $1 million for football stadium upgrades if the school receives enough votes to win the competition.
The $25,000 check was presented at halftime of SK’s Oct. 3 home game against Curtis. The T-Mobile-sponsored game also featured giveaways, fan gear and free concessions. Fans nationwide can vote for their favorite school at FridayNight5GLights.com through Oct. 24. SKHS, the only Washington school out of the 25 finalists, sits in fifth place in the voting as of Oct. 6. The school had previously received $5,000 as one of the initial 70 Washington schools to participate in the competition.
One finalist will also win the T-Mobile Fan Favorite Award, chosen by T-Mobile employees, and receive an additional $25,000. In addition to the $1 million for field upgrades, the grand prize winner, announced Oct. 30, will also receive a renovated weight room from Gronk Fitness, a consultation with stadium experience experts, an all-expenses-paid trip to the SEC Championship Game for 16 school representatives, and a tailgate party revealing the finalized upgrades in 2026.
The national competition, which started with more than 2,700 high schools across the country, aims to give schools a chance to upgrade their football fields. Finalists were selected based on inspiring stories shared by their communities.
“We heard inspiring stories from schools all across the country since kicking off the competition over two months ago, and the passion is just incredible,” Jon Freier, president of T-Mobile Consumer Group, said in a company release. “It’s clear these schools are on a major mission not only to chase the big win but to also build pride in their communities.”
SKHS, whose 1994 state football championship remains a lasting symbol of pride, is hoping the competition can breathe new life into its facilities, which have fallen behind after years of failed bonds. Jamie Ford, head cheer coach at South Kitsap, said the recognition is especially meaningful for the school’s students.
“It’s pretty exciting. The kids have been working really hard to promote it. It’s just awesome to see their work paying off and having that momentum and that recognition,” Ford said.
Ford added that the cheer team has a vested interest in the school’s potential upgrades, particularly the weight room.
“Our cheerleaders use the weight room and lift weights — so we can have a direct interest in seeing a better weight room,” Ford said.
She also noted the broader impact of the competition on the school and community.
“The role of the cheerleaders is to just promote the school and the student body and all the sports, so there’s a lot of different programs that use the field for a lot of different things,” Ford said. “Our band uses it, soccer, flag football, which is a girls’ program we have right now.”
Ford expressed gratitude for the community’s support in making the school a finalist.
“A big thank you to everybody who has been supporting us, supporting these kids, and it’s been really fun to just see everybody coming together for something positive,” she said.
