Covington High School has muscled its way into the final round of a national contest that could hand the Lions a $1 million facility upgrade, after the school already banked $345,000 in cash and prizes by winning the South Division of T-Mobile's Friday Night 5G Lights competition. Students, cheerleaders and the school band gathered Thursday for a prep rally celebrating the milestone, with public voting now open for the grand prize through Nov. 8.
Covington earned its spot after winning two earlier rounds of the competition, according to WDSU, which reported the school secured a $250,000 prize destined for an upgrade to its fitness center. The school also pulled in nearly 198,000 contest votes, a $5,000 Big Deal Student Spotlight Award and a Gronk Fitness gym package, as detailed by NOLA.com. The student award recognizes someone who consistently supports others and positively impacts school and community, per the same report.
Covington Principal John Boudreaux credited the run with pulling together more than just his own campus. He said the competition brought Covington and its wider community together, including crosstown rival St. Paul's, which helped Covington High in the contest, according to NOLA.com's reporting.
What the Prize Money Could Fund
If the cash keeps flowing, Covington administrators have a wish list ready. Plans include upgrading female athletic locker rooms, adding dedicated locker rooms for boys' and girls' soccer and track teams, replacing the stadium sound system, and revitalizing a practice field shared by soccer teams, the marching band and auxiliary teams, per the NOLA.com account.
Athletic Director Kenny Schenck, who addressed the crowd at Thursday's rally, said he also wants to establish a campus nutrition lab to teach athletes about nutrition, healthy habits and wellness, according to the same report. Assistant Principal Lauren Bethancourt said the competition has united the community while investing in future students, NOLA.com reported.
Four Schools, One Million Dollars
Covington now faces three other division champions for the national grand prize: Buffalo Gap High School of Swoope, Virginia, which won the East Division; Menasha High School of Menasha, Wisconsin, winner of the Midwest Division; and Lakeside High School of Nine Mile Falls, Washington, the West Division champion, per NOLA.com's reporting. Each division winner receives $250,000, a Gronk Fitness gym upgrade and the $5,000 student leadership award, according to Youth Sports Business Report, which reported Covington's prize funding will support facility and equipment upgrades benefiting more than 450 student-athletes.
Buffalo Gap's path to the final mirrors Covington's. WHSV reported that school pulled in more than 195,000 votes in a competition that has drawn more than 2.3 million votes nationwide, and that voting reset for the final round, with supporters allowed to vote once daily through Nov. 8. Menasha's advancement to the final voting phase for its own shot at a $1 million stadium upgrade was confirmed by NBC26, which noted the Top 4 Voting Period runs from Oct. 29 through Nov. 8.
How Supporters Can Cast a Vote
Supporters with a valid mobile phone number may cast one contest vote daily through Nov. 8, per NOLA.com's reporting. T-Mobile is scheduled to crown the $1 million grand-prize winner on Nov. 12, according to Youth Sports Business Report, which noted the broader Friday Night 5G Lights program has awarded more than $15 million to schools and communities during its first three years. T-Mobile has said the competition turns school pride into tangible opportunities for students, per the NOLA.com report.
For now, Covington's campus is leaning into the moment. Thursday's rally drew students, cheerleaders and the school band in a show of support as the Lions wait out the final stretch of voting, with St. Tammany Parish Interim Superintendent Steve Alfonso among the district leadership watching the contest play out, according to NOLA.com.
