Conant HS is Channel 5’s Dance Friday site
Let the Dance Friday party begin.
Excitement is running high at Conant High School in Hoffman Estates. They learned Wednesday they will be the featured prep destination of the week during Friday’s NBC 5 News Today telecast.
The NBC film crew is scheduled to arrive at the Cougar Den as early as 5:30 a.m., making for an early morning tailgate before the school’s homecoming game that night against conference rival Fremd.
Conant’s student body — including its pep section, the Conant Crazies — will be featured in live news feeds until 7 a.m.
“We believe the community support, from parents and volunteers, is what pushed us over the top,” said Jerry Trevino, student activities director.
Voting was close, and Conant narrowly defeated St. Patrick’s High School in Chicago, who will hosting Marian Catholic in an East Suburban Catholic High School contest.
The results were announced Wednesday on NBC 5’s Facebook page, and they will be shared again on this morning’s NBC 5 News show, but excitement already started building at Conant.
“Word got out,” Trevino said Wednesday. “There was definitely a buzz in the hallways. All the students and staff were talking about it.”
As soon as they heard the news, administrators met to make plans for the live news feed. They are seeking to include the entire student body, including all of its spirit groups, mascot and members of the marching band to represent Conant’s school spirit.
They also hope to have homecoming King Matthew Cullen and Queen Christina Rosales on camera to describe Conant’s strong school traditions.
“Conant has a long-standing tradition of student involvement both inside and outside our building,” Trevino adds. “This contest was an opportunity for the students, staff and community alike to show their Cougar pride.”
This is the third year of NBC’s prep destination of the week features, when it moves around the Chicago area spotlighting high school football and its accompanying school spirit.
The series always ends with the popular Dance Friday segment, when students, their spirit squads and administrators join NBC personalities in a on-air dance set to a surprise music selection.