Lebanon, OR. — On Friday November 15th a presentation ceremony was held at Lebanon High School where T-Mobile’s Rural Market Manager Gary Bucholz presented LHS with a check for $100,000 following the conclusion of the 5G Friday Night Lights Contest. Lebanon High School was the only school in Oregon to make it into the list of top-25 finalists and compete for a $1 million prize. LHS came in second place in the final competition with 1,457,848 votes, losing out to Dierks, Arkansas who took first with 1,988,665 votes.
In total LHS won $131,000 through the entire contest, funds that will go towards repairing Heath Stadium where the Warriors football team plays. The stands at Heath Stadium are currently condemned and unusable as they are in substantial need of repair.
Lebanon High was the only Oregon school to reach the contest’s Top 25 finalists, rising above more than 2,100 applicants nationwide. In total, the school earned $131,000 through multiple stages of the competition:
- $1,000 for entering
- $25,000 for reaching the Top 25
- $5,000 through the “$5K Fridays” sweepstakes
- And the $100,000 finalist award
All funds will go toward repairing and rebuilding the long-condemned grandstands at Heath Stadium, a facility central to Warriors football, district graduations, band performances, and major community events.
“While we didn’t bring home the $1 million grand prize, we absolutely showed what makes Lebanon special,” said Superintendent Jennifer Meckley. “Our students, staff, and community came together to represent not just our school but the entire state of Oregon.”
Principal Craig Swanson emphasized the importance of the project. “Heath Stadium has been a cornerstone of this community since 1957. These funds will help us begin the process of restoring a space that means so much to so many, from football games to graduations.”
Booster Club president Doug Phillips echoed those sentiments, describing the stadium as “a piece of our community that reaches way beyond football games and graduations.”
T-Mobile launched Friday Night 5G Lights as part of its ongoing commitment to support small and rural communities. Since announcing the initiative in 2021, the company has expanded 5G access, invested in its Hometown Grants program, and supported schools through technology and infrastructure awards.
Though Lebanon narrowly missed the top spot, school leaders say the effort showcased overwhelming community spirit—and laid the foundation for long-awaited improvements that will benefit students and families for decades to come.
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