SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO) — Students in the Lennox School District have learned they are finalists in a nationwide contest.
The T-Mobile 5G Friday Night Lights competition includes $1 million in improvements to a school's home field facility.
On Thursday morning, students of all ages packed the bleachers inside the Lennox High School gym, many unaware of the news they were about to hear.
During a school assembly, activities director Casey Shade announced that the district has already been awarded $25,000. Now, they are the only South Dakota school in the running for a $250,000 prize.
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"They can win a new weight room plus $250,000, and if they win that, they would move on to one of four finalists across the country for $1 million," Joshua Young with T-Mobile said.
School staff say there are upgrades needed at the current Lennox field that the prize money would help fulfill.
"We just don't have enough space," activities director Casey Shade said. "Then, we add a girls soccer program, which we have over 30 girls out for, but we have limited space. We don't have any turf to put them on, ...