Inola High School wins $2 Million T-Mobile Friday Night 5G Lights grand prize, transforming football stadium
T-Mobile has named Inola High School in Inola, Oklahoma, the champion of its Friday Night 5G Lights competition.
Competing against over 1,700 high schools across the United States, the school secured the top prize: a $2 million upgrade to its football stadium, including a $100,000 grant, new fitness equipment, a tech-enhanced scoreboard, 5G upgrades, and a community celebration featuring live music and a drone show.
Efforts behind the win
Inola, with a population of 1,897, secured its win through extensive efforts by students and community members. They distributed flyers, contacted more than 1,700 schools in Oklahoma, and reached out to over 1,850 principals and 540 superintendents to garner support.
Jon Freier, President, T-Mobile Consumer Group, commented:
“Small town pride and community spirit have truly been the backbone of this competition. Inola High School and all the participants showed us what Friday night lights are really about — community, passion and resilience.
“We’re excited to bring this unforgettable game night experience to life with 5G technology, knowing it will inspire and unite the people of Inola like never before.”
The school, known as the “Home of the Longhorns,” addressed aging facilities, including damaged turf, a broken sound system, and outdated weight room equipment.
Deleea Meeker, College and Career Coordinator at Inola High School, stated:
“Winning the Friday Night 5G Lights competition is a dream come true for our students, our team, and our entire community. We can’t thank T-Mobile enough for believing in the power of small-town spirit and for bringing these transformative upgrades to our school.”
Representatives from Inola High School will receive their trophy at the Southeastern Conference Championship Game on December 7 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta. The upgraded facilities are expected to be unveiled in 2025.
The improvements will benefit more than just the football team. The new weight room will be available to all students, including those in gym classes and other sports programs. The enhancements aim to provide better resources for the entire student body.
They will also receive a new teched-out scoreboard, consultation with football field experience experts, 5G network upgrades package and a tailgate party celebration with live music and a 5G-powered halftime drone show.
Rob Gronkowski, a four-time Super Bowl Champion and ambassador for the competition, commented on the impact of the upgrades:
“It’s amazing to see the excitement radiating from Inola and the incredible impact this will have on their community,” said Gronkowski. “Now, they’ll have facilities that truly reflect their passion, pride and determination. The energy from all the schools in this competition has been off the charts, and I can’t wait to see how these upgrades elevate school spirit and create new opportunities for the students at Inola High School.”
