A $5,000 award from cellular provider T-Mobile will be used to upgrade the lights at Demon Stadium on the Franklinton High School campus.
FHS was one of only two high schools on the Northshore to receive the $5,000 awards. The other high school was Sumner in Tangipahoa Parish.
Franklinton High is now also eligible to advance to the next round of T-Mobile’s “Friday Night 5G Lights” initiative.
If FHS makes it into the next round, the school will earn an additional $25,000. After that, there will be one school from across the nation that will become the grand prize winner. The grand prize is a $1 million stadium and building transformation, including a weight room renovation by Gronk Fitness. In addition, the grand prize winning school would receive a trip to the SEC Football Championship Game.
According to T-Mobile, community support is what determines the winning high schools.
FHS Principal Shane Smith said he and the entire school faculty and student body are excited about winning the $5,000 award.
“Our school relies heavily on outside funds for operating our extracurricular activities. The $5,000 award will help FHS address the lighting issues we have in our stadium,” Smith said.
“Our stadium lights are outdated and much harder to find now. We will be replacing about 1/3 of the bulbs with new LED lights. LED lights burn brighter and require less electricity,” said Smith, who has plenty of knowledge about the school’s stadium lights as a former FHS head football coach.
He added, “Also, we are excited to now qualify for the grand prize. As a grand prize recipient we could install the much needed track and drainage needed to complete the facility.”
