NINE MILE FALLS, Wash. — Lakeside High School students got more than they bargained for at the homecoming assembly on Thursday.
The school is moving on to the next round of a competition for a $1 million home field renovation. For that, it will need the community’s help.
The school has already won $35,000 from the T-Mobile Friday Night 5G Lights competition so far. Now they are one of 40 rural high schools chosen to compete for the grand prize.
“It’s bringing a lot of school spirit, community spirit together, which is awesome to see, especially two months after the disaster,” superintendent Jeff Baerwald said.
The Autumn Lane Fire took a lot from the Lakeside community over the summer, but this contest is a chance for families to look ahead.
“Right behind the high school is scorched — you literally are surrounded by a tragic memory,” athletic and attendance secretary Taylor Vavau said. “But our community has rallied so hard to support us, to help us. And we couldn’t have been more thankful for that.”
Lakeside’s current football field has seen better days. The real grass is dying in some spots, and it isn’t set up to host other sports like soccer.
Kelsey Wash-nearing is a Lakeside parent, alum, and the president of the booster’s club. She says the entire community would benefit from field upgrades.
“It’s not just used for football. It is used as a community event center, and it would be amazing to be able to offer this to our wonderful little, tiny community,” she said. “Our youngest daughter is in the elementary school and our athletes that we have coming up, they deserve better.”
Representatives from T-Mobile will present the $35,000 that the school has won so far at the homecoming football game Friday night.
“The whole field, the whole stadium is going to be magenta,” T-Mobile regional manager Robert Hardy said. “We’re going to have a really good time.”
You can vote for Lakeside High School once a day every day until October 24 by clicking here.
“Vote every day if you can. It will help us and just be such a gift for this community,” parent and Booster Club member Jenna Star said.
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