WASHINGTON, D.C., November 25-Commerce Secretary Carlos M. Gutierrez joined President George W. Bush in announcing the 2008 recipients of the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award, the nation’s highest Presidential honor for organizational innovation and performance excellence.

“I am pleased to join President Bush in announcing these three outstanding organizations that have been named to receive this year’s Baldrige Award,” Gutierrez said. “Quality, innovation and competitiveness are essential to maintaining America’s global leadership and providing our citizens with world-class products, health care and education. Each of the recipients we honor today serves as a role model embodying the values of excellence, principled leadership and commitment to employees, customers, partners and community.”

The 2008 Baldrige Award recipients include:

Cargill Corn Milling North America, Wayzata, Minn. (manufacturing)

Poudre Valley Health System, Fort Collins, Colo. (health care)

Iredell-Statesville Schools, Statesville, N.C. (education)

The 2008 Baldrige Award recipients were selected from a field of 85 applicants. All of the applicants were evaluated rigorously by an independent board of examiners in seven areas: leadership; strategic planning; customer and market focus; measurement, analysis and knowledge management; workforce focus; process management; and results. The evaluation process for each of the recipients included about 1,000 hours of review and an on-site visit by a team of examiners to clarify questions and verify information in the applications.

The Baldrige National Quality Program (BNQP) and the Baldrige Award promote innovation and performance excellence across the country and around the world in a number of ways.