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Thirty North Carolina high schools have each won $5,000 through T-Mobile's Friday Night 5G Lights program -- money they can use for needs such as new helmets, weight room equipment, uniforms or travel costs. Now, each school is also in the running for a $1 million field upgrade.
North Carolina has already built momentum in the program: since Friday Night 5G Lights launched in 2024, 38 schools across the state have won a combined $240,000, including Rosewood High School in Goldsboro, a Top 25 finalist last year, and Salisbury High School, a Top 16 finalist in 2024. Both Rosewood and Salisbury won $25,000. This year's winners stretch across the state, from the Triangle and Triad to the foothills, mountains and coastal communities.
East Rutherford High School was among the first 300 North Carolina school winners nationwide during week1.
North Carolina schools have already had strong national showings: Rosewood High School in Goldsboro was a Top 25 finalist last year, and Salisbury High School was a Top 16 finalist in 2024. Both schools won $25,000 through the program.
Now in its third season, Friday Night 5G Lights supports smaller communities where high school football is often the center of Friday night life. North Carolina's Week 1 winners include schools from rural communities and football towns across the state -- giving local programs an early boost while following the path of previous North Carolina finalists that turned community support into $25,000 wins.
This year, the program will award more than $8.4 million in total prizes. In addition to the $5,000 each of these schools has already received, every eligible school that applies has a chance to move on and compete for additional prizes, including 40 regional finalists will win $25,000 each, four Division Champions will win $250,000 each, and one school will receive the $1 million field upgrade. Public voting runs October 8-25 at FridayNight5GLights.com, where anyone in the country can vote once per day.
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 onto 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.
Learn more by visiting FridayNight5GLights.com.
