AXTELL, Kan. — Axtell Public School has scored a major win for its community, securing $5,000 through T-Mobile’s national Friday Night 5G Lights competition and keeping its hopes alive for a grand-prize football field makeover valued at $1 million.
The school was randomly selected as a winner in the program’s “$5K Fridays” sweepstakes. The nationwide initiative celebrates small-town high school football and the immense community pride surrounding it. Axtell is one of 17 Kansas schools chosen so far, collectively bringing the state’s sweepstakes earnings to $90,000.
Fueling Hometown Facilities
Athletic Director Jayson Tynon submitted the application to help bridge the funding gap for facility upgrades that extend beyond what a volunteer-driven community can tackle on its own. Targeted improvements include:
- New stadium lighting for safer evening events.
- Upgraded sound systems to enhance the game-day experience.
- Improved accessibility for fans and community members.
If realized, these updates will transform the grounds into a safer, more welcoming gathering place not just for fall football, but for summer baseball, student-athletes, and generations of hometown Eagles supporters.
What Lies Ahead in the Competition
With more than $8.4 million in total prizes available this season, Axtell and all participating schools remain eligible for the ultimate grand prize. The timeline for the remainder of the competition includes:
- October 8: Announcement of the Top 40 finalist schools ($25,000 prize each).
- October 8 – 25: Public voting opens to determine the Final Four division champions ($250,000 prize each).
- November 12: The grand prize winner of the $1 million football field transformation is officially announced.
Would you like to explore or include quotes or contact details for representatives from Axtell Public School to further highlight what this milestone means for their students and athletes?
List of Kansas High School $5K Fridays recipients:
Southwest Kansas Area:
- Garden City High School (Garden City)
- Bucklin High School (Bucklin)
- Cimarron High School (Cimarron)
Joplin-Pittsburg Area:
- Columbus Jr/Sr High School (Columbus)
- Southeast High School (Cherokee)
- Uniontown High School (Uniontown)
Kansas City Area (KS):
- Anderson County High School (Garnett)
- Baldwin High School (Baldwin City)
- Central Heights High School (Richmond)
- Maur Hill Mount Academy (Atchison)
- St. James Academy (Lenexa)
St. Joseph Area:
- Riverside High School (Wathena)
Topeka Area:
- NEW Axtell High School (Axtell)
- Emporia High School (Emporia)
- Topeka High School (Topeka)
Wichita-Hutchinson Area:
- NEW Conway Springs High School (Conway Springs)
- Kiowa County High School (Greensburg)
- Spearville High School (Spearville)
