While the official fundraising to replace the artificial surface at Wayne Jamison Field is still likely several weeks away, school officials announced Friday the name of the campaign that looks to raise more than a half a million dollars. According to Bridgeport High School Assistant Principal Matt DeMotto, students at the school narrowly selected the slogan “Turf for Title Town.”

 

Students voted in home room Friday morning. A total of 184 students chose that slogan, while the runner-up – “Resurf the Turf” – had 181 votes.

 

DeMotto said students got to vote from a handful of titles trimmed down from roughly 60 that were received from students, teachers and off of the Web site Connect-Bridgeport.com and the site’s Facebook and Twitter social media components. The winning selection came from one of the Connect-Bridgeport entrants.

 

DeMotto said Amy Condon was actually one of two individuals that had the same slogan. However, the times the slogans were submitted were included with the submission and Condon was the first to make the statement at 9:25 a.m. on August 23. She is the winner of two reserved seats for the 2014 football season.

 

“The same slogan was submitted again, but it came in the next day,” said DeMotto, who is also the school’s athletic director.

 

The school’s turf was installed prior to the 2005-6 school year. Those involved with the project knew that it would have a life of at least 10 years and that it would need to be replaced eventually. A few years ago, BHS administrators began the process with the reserved seats that are sold prior to each season for the last three years. That money, as well as other funds, has reached nearly $60,000.

 

DeMotto said BHS is working to setting up a bank account for donations when the campaign begins to accept money. He also said they are working with Citynet to set up a process where those looking to contribute or make a pledge can meet that pledge by donating on-line over a period of time – months or even a few years.

 

“We’ll get the word out to the public when that’s going to happen,” DeMotto said. “We hope to get a few more years out of our turf, and it’s still safe to play on, but we need to be ready to go when they tell us it needs replaced.”