Russellville Area Technology Center (RATC) was among 11 state-administered technical schools that won the Office of Career and Technical Education's (OCTE) 2004 Schools of Excellence award.

The school was honored on Dec. 7 during OCTE's 2004 Awards and Recognition ceremony held at the Jackson County Area Technology Center.

Department for Workforce Investment Commissioner Laura E. Owens, who presented the award, said the schools receiving the awards have set high standards.

"I am proud of the achievements made in our Kentucky Tech area technology centers and especially proud of the accomplishments of these 11 schools," Owens said. "You are the ones pushing beyond conventional boundaries to reach new heights of success for your programs, for your graduates and for Kentucky's workforce,"

Schools of Excellence are given to ATCs whose students have at least an 80 percent completion rate and have a student placement rate of at least 90 percent in jobs, postsecondary education or in the military.

OCTE is an agency of the Education Cabinet's Department for Workforce Investment. OCTE administers 53 area technology centers, which are secondary schools that offer students hands-on training in business, graphics, construction, manufacturing, automotive and information technology fields and health and human services.

The Kentucky Education Cabinet coordinates learning programs from P-16, and manages and supports training and employment functions in the Department for Workforce Investment. For more information about programs, visit www.educationcabinet.ky.gov or www.workforce.ky.gov, or call 502-564-6606.