VIDALIA &045; Concordia Bank and Concordia Parish School officials will dine in the governor’s mansion Wednesday in honor of a working partnership between the two.

Concordia Bank and Trust Company is the recipient of a 2004 Distinguished Partner in Education Award for the state.

The school system entered the bank in the competition based on several projects, including their Bank in School program in place in 14 sixth grade classes across the Miss-Lou.

&uot;We don’t do it for recognition,&uot; bank President Pat Biglane said. &uot;But we are very honored and flattered that the school board would even consider nominating us. The state recognition is just extra special.&uot;

The award goes to a handful of partners in the state. The last Concordia Parish winner was Louisiana Hydroelectric in 1997. The award program began in 1991.

The Bank in School program, in place in four parish schools, teaches the students how to work as tellers, how to count money, balance accounts and utilize the proper paperwork. &uot;We want to help our children learn anything they can about financial matters,&uot; Biglane said.

Each school in the program has a mini-bank set up in the school run by student tellers, trained by Concordia Bank personnel. The program, which started nine years ago, has helped 400 current students set up savings accounts with their school bank.

&uot;For many years Concordia Bank has been committed to enhancing the educational environment of our schools,&uot; Superintendent Kerry Laster said. &uot;Students, teachers and parents have benefited from the activities and projects which Concordia Bank has sponsored and supported.&uot;

The bank has also been involved in the D.A.R.E. program, and providing supplies and refreshments for a variety of school programs. &uot;We do it because the board and the bank is committed to our youth and education,&uot; Biglane said.

Representatives from the bank and the school board will attend a formal award presentation ceremony followed by an awards reception at the governor’s mansion.