FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                 Contact: Megan Fitzgerald
September 29, 2003                                        (703) 683-9312; mfitzgerald@acteonline.org


ALEXANDRIA, VA ? The Association for Career and Technical Education (ACTE) announces that Representative James R. Gowans of Utah has been selected by the ACTE Board of Directors to receive the Carl Perkins Humanitarian Award. The award will be presented at the ACTE Annual Convention and Career Tech Expo, December 11-14, in Orlando, Florida.

The award, established in 1985 in honor of the late Rep. Carl Perkins, is designed to recognize individuals who have demonstrated the same humanitarian concerns exemplified by Rep. Perkins. It recognizes individuals who have made outstanding meritorious contribution of state or national significance to the improvement, promotion, development and progress of career and technical education.

Throughout his career, State Representative Gowans has made career and technical education a primary focus. Beginning his career as a teacher, he ascended through the ranks of the public school system. Upon retirement, after serving 35 years with the Toole County School district as a teacher and superintendent, Rep. Gowans serves in the Utah State House of Representatives.

In the Utah State House of Representatives, Rep. Gowans has been a member on the education committee and agriculture appropriations committee, protecting funds for the state?s Applied Technology Education (ATE) programs. During each of the ten years that he has served as legislator, state funding for ATE programs has been increased rather than cut. While an administrator in the Tooele school district Rep. Gowans was a huge advocate for career and technical education. Under his tenure there was an increase in the number of career and technical programs in the district and each program was given control of their own budget.

A fellow colleague comments on Rep. Gowans efforts, ?In a time of strained state budgets James is a consistent voice reminding his fellow legislators that career and technical Education is an important part of the high school curriculum and is very important to a large segment of the students at that high school.?

The Association for Career and Technical Education is the national professional association for the field of career and technical education. Now in its 77th year, ACTE?s membership numbers more than 30,000 teachers, counselors and administrators at the middle school, high school and postsecondary levels.

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September 29, 2003                                      NR#03-029