COLORADO SPRINGS — Colorado Springs and area school districts are calling on residents to turn lights on across the community for one hour to honor the 2020 graduates Thursday.
Starting at 8:20 p.m., Colorado Springs encourages residents, businesses, community groups, and facilities to "Be the Light" by turning on flashlights, headlights, stadium lights, and more for one hour to celebrate local graduates. The campaign is an extension of the statewide #BetheLightCO. City officials said they will be capturing the event by drone.
“#BeTheLightCO started here in Colorado Springs to let students know we missed them and that we were thinking of them,” said Chris Noll, Colorado Springs School District 11 athletic director, “and that ultimately, the lights that we turned on were lights to give hope and to represent the light at the end of the tunnel.”
Colorado Springs outlines the following recommendations — though creative and visible efforts are also encouraged (with the exception of fireworks, as they are prohibited).
Residents
- Leave porch lights on from 8:20 to 9:20 p.m.
- Go outside with flashlights, glow sticks, holiday lights or other tools for this hour.
- Turn headlights on in parked vehicles outside
Businesses
- Consider leaving lights on at your office building from 8:20 p.m. to 9:20 p.m.
- Encourage employees to turn on porch lights, bring holiday lights outside or turn on the headlights of their parked cars
- Turn out exterior lights such as those in parking lots
Facility Owners
- Illuminate field, stadium or any other exterior lighting
- Activate fleet vehicles
The City of Colorado Springs plans to participate by lighting major facilities, including Memorial Park, Goose Gossage Sports Complex, the Pioneer's Museum, Cottonwood Creek Community Park, and Venezia Park. Community partners participating include the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Training Center. the Colorado Springs Switchbacks, Pikes Peak International Raceway, Rocky Mountain Vibes and school district stadiums.
"A successful campaign would mean that any high school senior can step outside their home and see the City lit up for them," said Joe Hollmann, Marketing Specialist for the City of Colorado Springs. "We all want to celebrate them in a way that is safe and healthy, and #BeTheLightCOS is an opportunity to do just that."
In addition, the City encourages the community to post on social media and use the hashtag #BeTheLightCOS for Colorado Springs to congratulate your grads.
