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<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none" class=MsoNormal><B><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman">Press Release<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /><o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></B></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none" class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 11.5pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman">For Immediate Distribution<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none" class=MsoNormal><B><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 11.5pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman">March 6, 2012<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></B></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none" class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 11.5pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman">CONTACT: Bob Estabrook, 503-709-0730<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none" class=MsoNormal><B><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 11.5pt"><o:p><FONT face="Times New Roman"> </FONT></o:p></SPAN></B></P>
<P style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none" class=MsoNormal align=center><B><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 16pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman">Avakian highlights hands-on learning <o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></B></P>
<P style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none" class=MsoNormal align=center><FONT face="Times New Roman"><B><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 16pt">in visit with local students</SPAN></B><B><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Times"><o:p></o:p></SPAN></B></FONT></P>
<P style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none" class=MsoNormal align=center><FONT face="Times New Roman"><I><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 11.5pt">Roundtable discussion spotlights </SPAN></I><?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" /><st1:City><st1:place><I><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 11.5pt">Corvallis</SPAN></I></st1:place></st1:City><I><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 11.5pt">’ success, growing opportunities<o:p></o:p></SPAN></I></FONT></P>
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<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none" class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman"><B><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt">CORVALLIS—</SPAN></B><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt">Local education officials and community partners sat down with Oregon Labor and Industries Commissioner Brad Avakian today for a roundtable discussion on the importance of Career and Technical Education (</SPAN><st1:stockticker><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt">CTE</SPAN></st1:stockticker><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt">).<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN><o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none" class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt"><o:p><FONT face="Times New Roman"> </FONT></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none" class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman"><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt">The group, meeting at IBEW Local 280’s </SPAN><st1:place><st1:PlaceName><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt">Training</SPAN></st1:PlaceName><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt"> </SPAN><st1:PlaceType><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt">Center</SPAN></st1:PlaceType></st1:place><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt"> in Tangent, discussed the successful model used in </SPAN><st1:City><st1:place><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt">Corvallis</SPAN></st1:place></st1:City><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt">, the state’s new </SPAN><st1:stockticker><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt">CTE</SPAN></st1:stockticker><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt"> Revitalization Grant Fund that Avakian helped to create, and the next steps in bringing these critical learning opportunities to other </SPAN><st1:State><st1:place><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt">Oregon</SPAN></st1:place></st1:State><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt"> students. The </SPAN><st1:City><st1:place><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt">Corvallis</SPAN></st1:place></st1:City><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt"> program has been the successful result of BOLI’s high-school integration initiative and gives students from </SPAN><st1:City><st1:place><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt">Corvallis</SPAN></st1:place></st1:City><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt">, </SPAN><st1:place><st1:PlaceName><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt">Crescent</SPAN></st1:PlaceName><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt"> </SPAN><st1:PlaceType><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt">Valley</SPAN></st1:PlaceType></st1:place><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt">, and College Hill High Schools real-world training experience, practicing hands-on skill development.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none" class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt"><o:p><FONT face="Times New Roman"> </FONT></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none" class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman"><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt">“We can partner with local businesses, labor unions and others for equipment and expertise to rapidly broaden vocational education options,” Avakian explained, emphasizing the success of </SPAN><st1:City><st1:place><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt">Corvallis</SPAN></st1:place></st1:City><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt">’ collaborative efforts and how neighboring school districts are following that example.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>“</SPAN><st1:State><st1:place><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt">Oregon</SPAN></st1:place></st1:State><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt"> businesses and labor unions consistently tell me they’re ready and willing to help, and now that the state is starting to match their efforts we’re in a very strong position.”<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
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<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none" class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman"><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt">As Labor and Industries Commissioner, Avakian has championed expanded vocational education hands-on learning for middle and high school students, he has empowered Oregonians to join the skilled workforce at a younger age, and he has ensured that </SPAN><st1:State><st1:place><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt">Oregon</SPAN></st1:place></st1:State><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt"> employers will have an available workforce trained with the appropriate skills.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Creation of a statewide grant fund in 2011 marked a major win for the coalition Avakian built in support of vocational education and will allow for the expansion of successful programs and the establishment of new ones in communities around the state.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none" class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt"><o:p><FONT face="Times New Roman"> </FONT></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none" class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman">“Career Technical Education is a sound investment with a high rate of return,” Avakian noted.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>“With hand-on learning and exposure to real-world training, we can increase engagement in learning for all levels of students, increase graduation rates, and lay the foundation for a highly skilled, internationally competitive workforce.”<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none" class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt"><o:p><FONT face="Times New Roman"> </FONT></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none" class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman"><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt">“With a good state policy in place, we can capitalize on the potential of our students, teachers and community partners to build the 21<SUP>st</SUP> Century workforce that will drive </SPAN><st1:State><st1:place><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt">Oregon</SPAN></st1:place></st1:State><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt">’s economic prosperity.” <o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
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<P style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: center 3.0in right 6.0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none" class=MsoNormal align=center><I><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman">The mission of the Bureau of Labor and Industries is to protect employment rights, advance employment opportunities, and protect access to housing and public accommodations free from discrimination.<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></I></P></DIV></BODY></HTML>