Pepsi MidAmerica and Dr Pepper are teaming up for a "Collect the Caps" program that will give area high schools, including Benton Consolidated High School, the chance for a piece of $60,000 in prize money.
Special-edition soda bottle caps, which will be yellow and featuring the image of a football helmet, will be collected in barrels at each of the competing schools.
Participating schools will compete in three divisions, with the first-place collection point in each division winning $10,000 to use toward whatever the school needs. Second place in each division will win $5,000, with third place taking home $2,500.
Schools competing against Benton in the Illinois division include West Frankfort, Thompsonville, Pinckneyville, Zeigler-Royalton, Marion, Christopher and Du Quoin.
Collection day will be held Saturday, Oct. 21 in Marion. On that day, an additional 15 random drawings will give participating schools the chance to win $500.
"We are so excited to be able to team up with Dr Pepper on a program that means so much to our local communities. It is amazing to see students, teachers, coaches, parents, and communities come together for this unique opportunity" Pepsi MidAmerica marketing director Doug Deaton said in a news release.
