When stadium lights illuminated the field at Althoff Catholic High School, something magical was in the air. The band struck up the fight song, the cheerleaders rallied the crowd, and families filled every seat in the stands. Little did they know they were witnessing a $5,000 winning moment in T- Mobile’s Friday Night 5G Lights contest.

Friday nights have always been special in Belleville, Illinois, but this season they’ve taken on new meaning. Each week, T-Mobile awards $5,000 to one high school in a community of 150,000 or fewer residents, that spotlight shines directly on Althoff Catholic High School. Their victory represents the very essence of what makes Friday night lights so captivating — the energy, the tradition, and the unbreakable bond between a school and its community.

The winning formula wasn’t complicated: authentic moments shared from the heart of the action. Whether capturing the intensity of the locker room before kickoff, the precision of the marching band at halftime, or the pure joy of students in the student section, Althoff Catholic High School showed the nation what real Friday night magic looks like.

This recognition comes as part of T-Mobile’s broader commitment to powering small-town America. Since 2021, the company has been expanding its America’s largest 5G network into rural communities, supporting students through educational initiatives, and investing millions in hometown development. Friday Night 5G Lights celebrates the institutions that anchor these communities — the high schools where traditions are born and memories are made.

The $5,000 prize will help Althoff Catholic High School athletics, ensuring that future Friday nights will be even brighter. But perhaps more importantly, this victory demonstrates that when a school community comes together with a common purpose, remarkable things can happen.

The contest continues throughout the fall season, with 450 schools set to win $5,000 each. The secret to success? Consistent, engaging content that tells your school's unique story. Every pregame ritual, every touchdown celebration, every moment that makes your Friday nights special deserves to be shared.

Picture this: Althoff Catholic High School’s name announced as a winner, your community celebrating, and your Friday night tradition getting the national recognition it deserves. That vision can become reality, but it starts with your action.

Althoff Catholic High School’s win is more than just a financial boost — it’s a celebration of unity, pride, and the power of community storytelling. As the Friday Night 5G Lights contest rolls on, their victory serves as an inspiring reminder that when a school comes together to share its authentic spirit, the impact can reach far beyond the field.

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This contest is part of the T-Mobile Friday Night 5G Lights program. Only schools that met the contest’s eligibility requirements were included in the campaign and prize selection, and community engagement helps determine future prize opportunities. This promotion is in no way sponsored, endorsed, or administered by, or associated with, Meta, and participants release Meta from any responsibility related to the campaign. See Official Rules.