Stadium Lights Make Dazzling Debut At Central Bucks East High School

BUCKINGHAM TOWNSHIP, PA — In one very special moment, a burst of light flooded the darkened stadium at Central Bucks High School East on Thursday night.

Suddenly, the colorful uniforms of the band, the dazzling flags twirling through the air and the green turf field glistened in a rapture of color and light.

This moment - this very special moment - was what many in this Central Bucks community had dreamed of, had worked for years to achieve.

“Shear joy,” is how Superintendent of Schools Dr. Abram Lucabaugh described the moment the lights went on.

“This has always been a school with a proud tradition of excellence, academics and athletics," he said. "And to know that this community cared so much about this project and saw it through to
completion and now our students can enjoy this in perpetuity, it’s just shear joy. I’m thrilled for staff, students and the community and everyone who gets to experience this.”

“To watch the joy of the kids on this field as the lights went on is just amazing,” added Central Bucks School Board President Dana Hunter. “I am completely humbled and honored to be part of this. We have an amazing community.”

Moments earlier, the superintendent and the board president unwrapped a check for $112,305.85 donated to the district by the stadium project committee.

“When we started peeling it back and we looked at the figure I did not anticipate what I saw. I had to do a double take,” said Lucabaugh. “The generosity, the commitment, the passion. It speaks to the quality of this community and why we have the schools we have. It’s the people.”

The special evening began with performances by the East cheerleaders, the Alma Mater led by a group of students and a moment of silence for Connor Boyle, Class of 2022, who died August 19 after a three year battle with cancer. He was a member of both the football and baseball teams at East.

“The CB East community has awaited this day since the opening of this school in 1969,” said Athletic Director Ryan Kelly. “In 2015 we began enjoying this wonderful stadium. And tonight we will illuminate this venue for the first time allowing us to host field hockey, football, soccer and
lacrosse games at night,” he said to a loud roar from the stands.

Kelly thanked the Buckingham Township Supervisors for making the project possible, the superintendent, the assistant superintendent for secondary education, the school board and the Central Bucks East Patriots Stadium Committee for its “tireless and patient efforts” in raising the support and money needed for this endeavor.

Committee members Bruce McKissock and Bill Boger thanked the community for helping to make the project happen.

“When we first started we thought it would be an easy project to get through,” said McKissock. “We learned it wouldn’t be, but what we did get was tremendous support from parents, students and alumni that allowed us to keep the pressure on as we argued for the need for this stadium and also to convey to the township supervisors the amount of community support there was for having a stadium here, a stadium that could serve the students at CB East and also the community.

“The role of the committee was to get as much support as we could and keep the pressure on as we went through court battles, hearings with the township and other activities that delayed the project. We also needed to do fundraising,” added McKissock. “We wanted to help contribute
toward the cost.”

Boger, who served as treasurer for the stadium committee, has helped lead the fundraising efforts for the past 25 years.

“Tonight, what we are here to present to the school district on behalf of the community and with the heart of the community, are the remaining funds that we have,” he said to applause from the stands.

McKissick and Boger were joined by committee members Wendy and Jon Schneider to officially present the check to the superintendent and to the board president.

“What you’ve done is going to live on to eternity for this community, for this school district and for this school. Enjoy this moment,” said Lucabaugh. “This is a special moment. Remember it. You have given more than just a gift, you’ve given a legacy.”

The first games scheduled to be played under the lights will see the girls soccer team take on C.B. West at 7 p.m. on Monday, August 29; the field hockey team taking on C.B. West on Tuesday, August 30 at 7 p.m.; the boys soccer team playing C.B. South on Wednesday, August 31 at 7 p.m. and on Friday night, Sept 9 at 7 p.m. the Patriots football team will take on Souderton in the school’s first Friday Night Lights game.