Northern Schuylkill schools to light stadiums to recognize Class of 2020, front line first responders

KAYLEE LINDENMUTH / SHENANDOAH SENTINEL FILE - Veterans Memorial Stadium seen from Shenandoah Heights.

SHENANDOAH – The three football stadiums in northern Schuylkill County will be alight this Friday night, but not for home football games.

Shenandoah Valley, Mahanoy Area, and North Schuylkill are participating along with a multitude of other District XI schools in lighting their stadiums to honor the Class of 2020 and support nurses, doctors, and first responders fighting COVID-19.

The stadiums on Shenandoah’s west end and in Mahanoy Township will be alight from 7:00pm to 9:00pm Friday, April 17. North Schuylkill will have theirs on at 8:20pm (20:20 in military time), leaving them on for 20 minutes and 20 seconds, to honor the Class of 2020.

Scoreboards will display the score as 20-20, and will show 4th down and 19 yards to go, to symbolize that COVID-19 is on its final down.

The public will not be allowed on stadium grounds during the ceremonies, though the public is encouraged to participate from home by taking a selfie with their favorite noisemaker, rally towel, or other item to support their school, and posting it to Twitter tagging their school, the Schuylkill League (@SchLeague) and District XI @PIAADistrictXI. It is also encouraged that #PIAATogether be tagged as well.

The event is in conjunction with the National “Porch Light Campaign.”

About Author