Haley Almodovar poses with Gov. Sonny Perdue.

Haley Noelle Almodovar, a fifth grader from Martinez, GA., had lunch with Georgia Gov. Sonny Perdue this week.

Almodovar, 11, won third place in the placemat category of the 2007 Manufacturing Appreciation Week (MAW) student design contest. She received a $100 scholarship check, presented by Gov. Perdue at the MAW awards luncheon held today at the Cobb Galleria. WXIA-TV’s Wes Sarginson was Master of Ceremonies.

Almodovar, who attends Brookwood Elementary School, looks forward to a career as an artist. “I was really excited when I found out I won,” she said. “Especially about meeting the governor.”

Thousands of students from around the state submitted design entries featuring Georgia manufacturers and their products. The three design categories were placemat, poster and t-shirt.

The awards luncheon is the highlight of MAW, celebrated this year April 9-13. Co-hosted by the Georgia Department of Technical and Adult Education and the Georgia Department of Economic Development, MAW brings attention to this significant component of Georgia’s economy. According to the governor’s proclamation declaring Manufacturing Appreciation Week, more than 10,000 manufacturing facilities are located in Georgia. They provide 450,622 jobs, contributing more than $100 billion to the state’s economy each year.

This is the 13th year celebrating Manufacturing Appreciation Week in Georgia. This year’s sponsors include BB&T; Georgia Power; the Georgia Tech Enterprise Innovation Institute; Fullscope; Habif, Arogeti & Wynne; and Pattillo Construction.