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Madison Elementary in McLeansville is among three Guilford County elementary schools honored Friday for collecting the most aluminum cans in the Kids, Cans & Ca$h recycling challenge.

Madison collected 303.2 pounds, winning in the category for schools with 399 or fewer students.

The schools were divided into three groups, based on the number of students in the school and judged on the weight of the cans they collected.

Alamance Elementary School won in the 600-students-and-up group for collecting 444.8 pounds, and Sedgefield Elementary topped with 208.4 pounds in the 400 to 599 category.

Madison Elementary was participating for the first time. Though Madison has fewer than 250 students, they made a lot of noise showing their excitement, said Susan Heim, environmental services coordinator of Guilford County Planning and Development.

"The students were extremely excited. 98.7-FM came out, and they just really had a good time," said Principal Judy Robbins.

More than 30 schools participated from Oct. 27 to Nov. 10, collecting 2,884 pounds of cans in the challenge, jointly sponsored by Guilford County, Greensboro and High Point.

This was the second win for Alamance, Heim said.

"Cynthia Hall, the exceptional students teacher, and her class of 11 students took the reins in this and were instrumental in getting the entire school involved," Heim said.

Hall said their school won $266.88, which will go toward the purchase of educational materials for the school.

"Kelli Anderson, my assistant teacher, the principal and assistant principal, custodial staff and the surrounding community have all been so supportive and encouraging throughout. That's how we've been so successful," Hall said.

Sedgefield Principal Michele Meley said her school has been involved all three years, but this was their first time taking the prize.

"We have worked really hard, come so close to winning, but never won until now, so our school is absolutely thrilled," Meley said just before the school's celebration assembly.

This is the third year for the recycling challenge held in celebration of America Recycles Day, which was Saturday .

"The goal is to bring home the concept of recycling. The schools won cash for the cans they collected, so our hope is that they will see that the cans they normally throw away do have value," Heim said.

Contact Adria Hairston at 883-4422, Ext. 244, or adria.hairston@news-record.com