Enfield High Awarded NBC's $10K ‘Rise' Grant

Enfield High School is one of dozens of schools to be awarded grant money in connection with the new NBC show, "Rise."

NBC is giving money to school drama clubs across the country as its show about a teacher who takes over a struggling school theater department debuts on Tuesday night.

Enfield High School's Lamplighters drama club will receive $10,000.

“This is what I want to do with my life,” Cole Wood, a senior at Enfield High, said. “I have made long friends through Lamplighters. I’ve learned social skills and confidence.”

Along with his classmate, Brendan Turner, Wood made a video and applied for the grant from NBC.

Enfield High School was one of 50 winners out of thousands of entries from across the nation.

“Having more money we’re able to get better sound equipment, maybe better props,” Turner said.

Thanks to help from this grant, Enfield High School is starting new drama classes next year.

“It couldn’t be more timely,” Erin Clark, Enfield High's principal said. “We’ve had budget cuts and a budget freeze recently so having that extra money to make sure that the kids have the supplies they need to have some exciting work in the classroom, it’s really going to make a difference in the program here.”

“It means that other people like myself get to experience and find their dream in the arts,” Wood said.

"Rise" debuts Tuesday at 10 p.m. on NBC Connecticut.

Contact Us