Putnam City Public Schools Foundation’s Celebration of Excellence is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, April 11, at the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum, 1700 NE 63rd Street.

The banquet will feature a Commander Neil Woodward III, the newest inductee into the Putnam City Foundation Wall of Fame. Woodward, a 1980 graduate of Putnam City High School, is a NASA astronaut and a Commander in the U.S. Navy.

Woodward will address banquet attendees on the importance of education, and how the education he received at Putnam City steered him to where he is today.

In addition to Woodward’s presentation and induction into the Wall of Fame, banquet attendees will enjoy seeing the district’s five "Excellent Educators" honored. In addition, schools that have been awarded Foundation grants will be recognized.

Winners of the Ralph Downs Memorial Scholarship and the Roberta Jo Lowe Memorial Scholarship, given to faculty members pursuing additional education, will also be recognized, as will be the Putnam City student who receives the Carol Casey Memorial Scholarship to aid college studies in health care.

District students will have several important roles at the banquet. The Putnam City North Philharmonic will entertain attendees. Helping present awards throughout the evening will be students from all three high schools.

District employees and PTA members may purchase tickets for $35 a person. Supporters of Putnam City Schools may purchase tickets for $100 a person. A table with eight seats may be purchased for $1,250. Proceeds from the banquet will be used to enhance and enrich educational opportunities for students in Putnam City schools.

Ticket forms for employees or patrons of the district are available by contacting Kristy Upton at the Putnam City Public Schools Foundation. Questions? Call Upton at 495-5200, ext. 1205.