RUMFORD — What will get teenagers out of bed for a 6 a.m. pep rally? A sense of community pride and a friendly competition between area schools provided the motivation as alarm clocks went off on Sept. 12.

WGME chose Mountain Valley High School to participate in the School Spirit Challenge with a kick-off rally live on CBS 13 News and FOX23 on Good Day Maine.

According to the news station’s website, “The school spirit challenge is a friendly competition between schools to show school pride and spirit, all while helping the community. The program is designed to promote the community and good stewardship with students of high schools in Central and Southern Maine through an ongoing food drive to benefit the Good Shepherd Food-Bank.”

The purpose of the challenge was to raise the most pounds of food between Sept. 12 and Oct. 31. Monetary donations were also accepted.

During the first few days of school, the student council met and developed a few ideas for raising food and money. The ideas included a competition between grade levels and raffles at various sporting events. One dollar for each ticket sold at football games went into the fund.

MVHS competed against high schools in Gorham, Scarborough, Brunswick, Bonny Eagle in Standish, Spruce Mountain in Jay, ?Edward Little in Auburn, Sanford ?and Gray-New Gloucester.