Gov. Brian Schweitzer Tuesday announced the 2007 recipients of the Governor's Award for Excellence in Performance.

In its 18th year, the awards program is a way to publicly recognize outstanding state employees.

"These folks have earned these awards and every Montanan should be proud to have them working for the taxpayers," Schweitzer said in a press release. "They should all be stopped on the streets of their communities and thanked."

The award winners, listed by agency:

Administration: A&E Division Team -- Chris Ames, Paul Blumenthal, Rick Hilmes, Mark Hines, Jason Howell, Russ Katherman, Cody Mitchell, Candice Stout, Joe Triem, Bob Warfle and James Whaley.

Office of Public Defender Team -- Daniel Boucher, Kristina Copenhaver-Landon, Doug Day, Jeremy Gersovitz, Allison Moulton, Kristina Neal, Peter Ohman, Sherry Petrovich-Staedler, John Putikka, Edmund Sheehy and Matthew Wald.

Agriculture: Cathy Bauder, MaryLee Cope, Heidi Hickes, Jaclyn Konecny, Laura Luckey, Angela Schaner, Jona Verreth and SooRyong Yoon.

Commissioner of Higher Education: Cyrus Malkin, Sandy Merdinger, Andrea Rankin, Dana Richards and Annette Walstad.

Commerce: Diane Larson, Mary Poepping and Marty Roos.

Corrections: Lee Blazer, Emery Brelje, Larry Briggs, George Clough, Scott Foster, Rita Frost, Steve Harris, Carol Haywood, Sam Jovanovich, Chuck Juhnke, Bryan Kester, Blaine Knadler, Marty Mavrinac, Cindy McKenzie, Bruce Miller, Mike Norvelle, Wes Raiha, James Raty, Judy Reimann, Rob Rowe, Melissa Strecker, Raymond Strutzel, Bud Walsh, Paul Wild, Tom Wood, Tom Woods and Glen Wyant.

Environmental Quality: Elaine Arterburn, Sandra Boggs, HelenAnn Cannon, Jenny Chambers, Lynn Groth, Denise Kelly, Dona McClung, Barb Williams and Joyce Wittenberg.

Fish, Wildlife and Parks: Andrew McKean, Dustin Temple and Hank Worsech.

Governor's Office: Jackie Williams.

Justice: Virginia Kinsey and Greg Noose.

Labor and Industry: Diane Bianchi, Casey Greenwood, Amber Lamping, Dick Madsen and Don Peterson.

Livestock: Tyler Bond, Mike Finnegan, Shane Grube, Bob Morton, Cody Peters, Wayne Thiem and Rob Tierney.

Military Affairs: Joe Foster.

Montana Arts Council: Kimberly Baraby Hurtle.

Montana Historical Society: Kirby Lambert.

Montana State Fund: Suzie Shute.

Montana State Library: Marjorie Smith.

Natural Resources and Conservation: Deb Barela, Deborah Byrd, Susan Dowler, Michelle Ekstrom, Teresa Garrison, Wanemah Hulett, Mickey Ivory, Doreen King, Jeanine Markle, Jennifer McKay, Kellye Metzenberg, Anne Moran, Kim Read, Becky Shepard, Susan Marie Smith, Patti Sundberg, Cynthia Super, Jan Wheeler and Paula Wofford.

Office of Public Instruction: Linda Atwood.

Public Health and Human Services: Carol Ballew, Alisha Benson, Stacy Campbell, Arthur Dreiling, Julia Evans-Meeks, Stephanie Goetz, Robert Jahner, Kimberly Koch, Linda Lee, Larry Lovelace, Chauntel Lucier, Denise Pizzini, Jane Smilie and Jason Swant.

Public Service Commission: Al Brogan, David Burchett, Eric N. Eck and Kate Whitney.

Revenue: Christy Hughes and Conrad Peterson.

School for the Deaf and Blind: Jim Takenaka.

Secretary of State's Office: Jean Branscum, Dana Corson, Kathleen Ely, Debra Morrell, Molly Petersen and Mark Van Alstyne.

State Auditor's Office: Patti Olson.

Transportation: Scott Barnes, Mark Baum, Marty Beatty, Monte Brown, Russel Burt, Russell Byrne, Dave Carlson, Gary Christopherson, Kari Danbrook, Mike Dyrdahl, Linda Hicks, Clint Jatkowski, Brenda Johnson, Susan Keeting, Cathy Kovich, Shane Maharg, Clayton McElravy, Gayna Miros, Jennifer Nelson, Ralph "Butch" Paquin, John Pirre, Scott Reesman, Robert Rockenbaugh, Eric Romero, Sue Rowell, Dave Sitch, Bob Weber, Michelle Wiseman, Russell Zeiler and Darrell Zook.