Pioneer Athletic Conference schools shine for Class of 2020, essential personnel and first responders
All Pioneer Athletic Conference schools participated in the Lights Shine Bright campaign Friday April 24.
The 12 schools turned on the lights at their football fields for 20 minutes at 8:20 p.m. (20:20 military time) Friday night to honor the Class of 2020, essential personnel and first responders.
The scoreboards showed a 20-20 score with 20:20 on the clock. The down and distance read 4th-and-19 to encourage punting away COVID-19.
“We did want to honor the Class of 2020 and we thought this was a good way to show that we’re all in this together and that we do appreciate the Class of 2020 and what they’ve done for their programs and the whole student body in general,” Upper Merion Athletic Director Rob Devers said. “Part of it was to also honor the front line workers, the essential workers, and also our first responders as well. The 4th-and-19 on the scoreboard was basically to represent it’s 4th down for COVID-19 and we’re getting through this and we’re making our way out of this pandemic situation.”
The PAC athletic directors were looking for ways to honor their seniors. Boyertown Athletic Director Nick Palladino got the idea from schools in the Lehigh Valley and everyone was on board.
The athletic directors took photos and video footage and shared them on social media Friday night. Norristown’s Athletic Director Anthony Palladino and Communications Department Director John Doyle put together a video montage which can be found on Twitter @NorristownAth.
