Geneva H.S. wins $2,500 in State Farm Contest
On Oct. 15, the Geneva High School varsity football team trailed the larger South Elgin team 21-6 in the third quarter. After battling back to tie up the score, the Vikings won the game 31-28 in the last two seconds of the game with a 35-yard field goal. But that's not all they won.
Thanks to the fans who caught that game-winning moment on video and the thousands of fans who voted for the video online, Geneva High School has now also earned $2,500 for the school as a winner in the State Farm Insurance Friday Night Feats video contest.
On Friday, Jan. 7, State Farm Agent Bill Nelson presented Geneva High School Athletic Director Jim Kafer and Principal Tom Rogers with the $2,500 check during half-time at the Geneva-St. Charles East boys basketball game in Geneva.
“We can't thank our community enough for helping to spread the word about the contest and for diligently going online to vote for Geneva,” says Jim Kafer, Geneva Athletic Director. “These days, we have to get creative in generating extra funds for our schools. When Agent Bill Nelson mentioned the Friday Night Feats contest shortly after the South Elgin game, we knew it was worth a try.”
Geneva High School is one of 26 second-half winners from around the country of Friday Night Feats, a national video contest highlighting the biggest moments from this year's high school football season. Winners received the top number of online votes in their region from Oct. 8 through Nov. 24.
The Friday Night Feats contest was split into “halves” with two winning nominees from each region during each half. In State Farm's Great Lakes region, which includes Illinois, Indiana and Michigan, the second half winners were Tri-Valley High School in Downs, Ill., and Geneva High School.
During the four years that State Farm Insurance has sponsored the Friday Night Feats video contest, tens of thousands of dollars have been awarded to high schools across the country.
“I know how important being there for your team and your community is, especially during tight economic times like these,” reflects local State Farm Agent Bill Nelson. “Our competitive teams are a reflection of the strength of our communities.”
Bill Nelson has been a State Farm agent in St. Charles for over 13 years and a Select Agent for the company since 2001. His office is located at 1930 W. Main St. in St. Charles.