There’s an energy that radiates from Wallkill Valley Regional High School on Friday nights – something electric that you can feel the moment you step onto campus in Hamburg, New Jersey. That infectious school spirit has now translated into tangible success, as Wallkill Valley Regional High School claimed a $5,000 victory in T-Mobile’s Friday Night 5G Lights contest.

The win exemplifies what happens when genuine passion meets strategic action. Throughout the season, Wallkill Valley Regional High School has been channeling their Friday night energy into compelling social media content, sharing the raw emotion and authentic moments that make their game days unforgettable. From the butterflies before kickoff to the euphoria of victory, their posts have captured the full spectrum of the high school football experience.

T-Mobile’s Friday Night 5G Lights contest was designed to recognize exactly this kind of authentic energy. Each week, one high school in a community of 150,000 or fewer residents wins $5,000 by demonstrating their school spirit through engaging Instagram and X posts. This week, that honor belongs to Wallkill Valley Regional High School, whose consistent and creative content stood out among thousands of entries nationwide.

“Through the 5K Friday’s award we are able to support our players through safety upgrades and experiences that provide a first class football experience. Through the demands and sacrifice that is associated with the sport of football, we are thankful that T-Mobile allows us to reward our student-athletes for their commitment fostering the important life skills that the sport develops and can be utilized off the field in life. This first-class experience that the 5k Friday’s instills the ability to create community pride in our program and has the ability to bring our four towns together.” said Head Football Coach, Jim Hamill.

The victory comes at a perfect time for Wallkill Valley Regional High School, which will use the $5,000 prize to further build on their proud tradition. But beyond the immediate impact, this recognition validates what the school community has always believed: their spirit is special, their energy is contagious, and their Friday nights deserve national attention.

This success story aligns perfectly with T-Mobile’s mission to support and celebrate small-town America. Since 2021, the company has invested over $16 million through Hometown Grants, expanded America’s largest 5G network into rural communities, and supported educational initiatives like Project 10Million. Friday Night 5G Lights continues this commitment by spotlighting the institutions that serve as the heartbeat of their communities.

The formula that led to Wallkill Valley Regional High School’s success can be replicated by any school with the determination to consistently showcase their unique spirit. The contest rewards authenticity over production value, consistency over perfection, and genuine emotion over scripted content.

What makes this opportunity so powerful is its accessibility. Every school has spirit. Every community has traditions. Every Friday night offers moments worth sharing. The challenge lies in capturing that energy and presenting it in ways that resonate with a national audience.

Wallkill Valley Regional High School’s approach demonstrates the importance of involving the entire school community in the effort. When students, staff, parents, and community members all contribute to sharing the Friday night experience, the resulting content becomes richer and more compelling.

The contest continues throughout the season, with hundreds more schools destined to experience similar success. The requirements remain straightforward: consistent posts from official school accounts, authentic content that showcases school spirit, and adherence to contest guidelines including the use of complete school names.

Ready to turn your school spirit into championship gold?

This $5K win is just the beginning of what that unstoppable energy can achieve. This fall, 25 schools will advance as finalists to win $25,000 each plus a T-Mobile-hosted home game, and one school will claim the ultimate $1,000,000 grand prize package that transforms everything. Keep that championship spirit alive by engaging with their content, amplifying their posts, and showing the nation that Wallkill Valley Regional High School’s energy is unstoppable.

Be sure to download the FN5GL Playbook for winning strategies, and keep the momentum building by using #FN5GL and #Sweepstakes with every post, tagging @TMobile, and showcase your complete school name – no nicknames.

The spotlight found Wallkill Valley Regional High School – now let’s make sure it never leaves.

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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.