Dierks High School Scores Big with $5,000 Grant from T-Mobile’s Friday Night 5G Lights

There’s a new reason to cheer in Howard County this football season: Dierks High School has been awarded a $5,000 grant through T-Mobile’s Friday Night 5G Lights, a national initiative celebrating the heart and hustle of high school football in small-town America.

Dierks is one of only three Arkansas high schools selected so far in the 2025 program, joining Gravette High School in Benton County and Little Rock Southwest High School in Pulaski County. The recognition places Dierks on a national stage and injects vital funding directly into its football program.

The funds are already being put to good use, with coaches and administrators citing much-needed upgrades to equipment, enhanced player safety, and an overall boost in team morale just in time for kickoff.

As part of the contest, Dierks is now in the running for a $1 million grand prize, which includes:

A full stadium makeover

A state-of-the-art Gronk Fitness weight room

A trip to the SEC Championship Game

And the opportunity isn’t over — more winners will be announced each week, and schools still have time to apply. The application deadline is September 12, 2025, and small-town schools across the country are encouraged to throw their hat in the ring.

About Friday Night 5G Lights

T-Mobile’s Friday Night 5G Lights celebrates high school football programs in communities with populations under 150,000. The 2025 initiative includes:

$5,000 grants to 450 high schools

$25,000 awards to 25 finalists

One grand prize winner receiving a $1 million stadium and facilities transformation

To learn more or apply before the deadline, visit www.FridayNight5GLights.com.

As excitement builds across Arkansas and beyond, Dierks High School stands proudly among small-town programs proving that big dreams live in small places.