Published: May 21, 2008 11:17 pm         

Local schools win awards for recycling

Students from 34 Raleigh County schools learned the benefits of recycling Wednesday at the schools recycling contest awards ceremony at the E. Paul Barley Recycling & Education Center at the Raleigh County Solid Waste Authority.

During the ceremony, Marsh Fork was awarded the Stanley Cup of Recycling from previous champion Mabscott Christian Academy for recycling the most weight of aluminum for the second semester. Along with the trophy, a teacher will be chosen to receive an extra $500 to buy classroom supplies.

Throughout this school year, 592 tons of recyclables were collected by the 34 participating schools, resulting in $6,501.23 awarded. In addition, Corporate Green Team offered a bonus of $10,100 to 13 schools with the highest recorded recycling weights of the year.

“In 2001, we had 47 tons,” said Sherrie Hunter, director of education and marketing for the SWA. “Who would have thought that we would end up with 592 tons this year? I am pleased with how we have evolved.”

The three big winners with the highest recorded weight were Mabscott Christian Academy, which won $2,000 for 204,248 pounds; Fairdale Elementary, which won $1,750 for 120,122 pounds; and St. Francis de Sales, which was awarded $1,500 for 80,397 pounds of recyclables.

Patricia Simmons, principal of Mabscott Christian, said it was a great opportunity to clean up the environment. Although the kids were equally motivated, she said, the school received much help from parents.

“The parents have really pitched in this year,” she said. “The extra money motivates the students and it all goes back into the school.”

Certificates of achievement were awarded to schools that recycled 40,000 pounds by Steve Pilato, regional representative for Gov. Joe Manchin. These schools were Daniels Elementary, Fair-dale Elementary, Mabscott Christian Academy, Marsh Fork Elementary, St. Francis de Sales, Shady Spring Elementary, Ghent Elementary and Shady Spring Middle.

“This is a chance to get involved and to change West Virginia,” Pilato said. “It’s great that all this excitement has been generated.”

A certificate of appreciation, also from Manchin’s office, was awarded to Verna Casino of Marsh Fork for her “outstanding environmental stewardship.”

The first graduating class that has recycled from elementary through high school was represented by Kati Suggs, a senior of Woodrow Wilson High School.

“This is an important moment because this is the very first class to have recycled from the beginning of school to the end,” Hunter said. “Every little child in here is our future and we want to thank them for everything.”

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