Lights On For High School Seniors, Spring Sports

Over the last week or so, the “Be The Light” campaign has taken hold in the Midwest and in South Dakota. It is a way to salute the graduating seniors, who are unable to finish their senior sporting seasons due to COVID-19. Different states have designated specific evenings to turn on their lights at various stadiums/fields at 8:20pm for 20 minutes to honor the seniors and spring sports. The time was chosen because 8:20 is 20:20 in military time. Scoreboards were also displayed with 20:20 on the clock and No. 20 was for both home and visitor scores.

Ryan Deal from the Mitchell Daily Republic reports there is another state-wide movement planned by the South Dakota Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association. The “Let It Shine South Dakota” campaign is set for May 1 and it encourages high school and college stadiums to shine their lights between 9:30 and 10 p.m.. South Dakotans are encouraged to shine everything from flashlights, firepits, yard lights and Christmas lights at their homes for 30 minutes.