BRIDGEPORT – Bridgeport Exempted Village School District is in the running for T-Mobile’s Friday Night 5G Lights Sweepstakes and calling on Bulldog Country to come out and boost the blue and the black on social media.
Athletic Director Brittany Hicks said Bridgeport Schools was already among districts selected for the initial prize of $5,000, which was received Sept. 18. A total of 1,000 schools from across the country won the same amount.
Now the district will post on Instagram and X tagging @tmobile with the hashtag #FN5GL and #Entry or #FN5GLEntry.
“The way the sweepstakes works though, is we will continue to try and win more money as the weeks go on. We’re going to try to push everything out on social media. The more traction we get from the community, we will have a chance. The next step is a $25,000 prize.”
Hicks said the other contestant districts will be doing the same. It will be in the public’s hands whether or not Bridgeport Schools advances.
“The end amount is $1 million,” she said. “You can use that million dollars for upgrades to your facilities.”
She entered Bridgeport Schools in May.
“I got an email in early August that was congratulating our school for officially being selected for the T-Mobile Friday Night 5G Lights winner for the $5,000.”
This initial win was used for Hudl focus cameras at the football field and other facilities.
Hicks was surprised and excited when she learned Bridgeport Schools was in the running.
“We never thought a small school like Bridgeport would even have a chance competing in that, but this spring I decided to take a chance, throw us in there, and we won.”
Her submission included an essay describing the need for improvements at the athletic facilities.
“The essay was about why Bridgeport Schools and in particular why our Perkins Field and our athletic facilities could use the money for certain upgrades that we need,” she said. “Down at Perkins, we take a lot of hits when it comes to flooding, so we’re restoring and repairing always, so that money could be used to help with different things.”
Hicks said for example the score clock and lights at the football field are dated and new ones would be welcome.
If Bridgeport Schools goes all the way and wins the $1 million, the district could get a scoreboard at the football stadium, improve the fieldhouse for the football players and turf the softball field.
“We could really upgrade a lot of our athletic facilities.”
She said other district leaders were overjoyed at the news.
“The administrators were extremely excited about it. They’re eager to start working, to try to get this out so we can see if we can go up to the next level,” she said. “This has been a really great thing for the whole district.”
Hicks said the contest has already begun.
“We have about two weeks before the next round is announced,” she said. “After that, they’ll give you about a month, and it’ll just continue to go.
“Now, it’s just all about pushing this out on social media and getting people to tag it to repost it using the T-Mobile hashtags.”
There are already plans in place to get word out.
“We’re going to start making some videos. We’re going to include a lot of our athletes. We’re going to have them talk in the videos. At the end of the day, that’s what this is about, our athletes and making them feel good about the sports they’re playing here at Bridgeport,” she said. “We’re going to get some alumni involved and some different organizations in the videos, just expressing what it means to be a part of the Bridgeport community and how important this money can be and how great it can be for our student athletes.”
She said the smart bet is always on the Bridgeport School community’s enthusiasm.
“Once we push it out and we let the community know that we’re trying to upgrade our facilities and we can do so, I do think we’ll get a big response from our community,” she said.
“A lot of people take pride in being part of Bridgeport Schools and being from the athletic teams here, and to continue to grow our athletics and continue to make those alumni proud and just really get our kids excited about being part of something big.”
Bridgeport High School Principal Jack Fisher commended the initiative and looks forward to the next steps.
“I would just want to say that I am very thankful to Ms. Hicks for entering us in the contest to win the $5000 and very proud of the work she has done for the Athletic Department,” he said. “She’s continuing to push for our school to win even more. It’s so great and I’m very impressed and proud.”
Bridgeport Schools is calling on the community to repost from the district or make their own post showing their pride as Bulldogs, all while using the T-Mobile hashtags.
