Each year, the American Counseling Association recognizes and celebrates the achievements of counseling professionals who have distinguished themselves professionally, as well as through service to others.
Formal recognition of award winners will take place during the National Awards Ceremony at the 2017 ACA Conference & Expo: March 16-19 in San Francisco.
Glen E. Hubele National Graduate Student Award
Naomi J. Wheeler, NCC, is a doctoral candidate in the Counselor Education Program at the University of Central Florida (UCF). Click
here to read more.
Courtland C. Lee Multicultural Excellence Scholarship Award
Christian D. Chan, MA, NCC, is a fourth-year doctoral candidate in the Graduate School of Education and Human Development at The George Washington University (GWU), where he received his Master of Arts in clinical mental health counseling. Click
here to read more.
Ralph F. Berdie Memorial Research Award
Caitlyn McKinzie-Bennett, MA, NCC, is a doctoral student in the Counselor Education Program at the University of Central Florida (UCF), where she received her bachelor’s degree in psychology and master’s in counselor education. Click
here to read more.
Best Practices Research Award
Laura Shannonhouse, LPC, NCC, is an assistant professor in the Department of Counseling and Psychological Services at Georgia State University whose research has been influenced by her clinical experiences working with marginalized populations in the U.S. and in other countries, such as Mexico, Haiti, and South Africa. Click
here to read more.
Ashley J. Blount, PhD, is an assistant professor in the Department of Counseling at the University of Nebraska at Omaha. Click
here to read more.
Kristie Opiola is assistant professor in the Department of Counseling and assistant director of the Multicultural Play Therapy Center at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte (UNCC). Click
here to read more.
Kelly Emelianchik-Key, PhD, LMHC, NCC, ACS, is an assistant professor and internship coordinator at Florida Atlantic University in the clinical mental health counseling program. Click
here to read more.
Rebekah Byrd, PhD, LPC, NCC, RPT-S, is an associate professor of counseling at East Tennessee State University (ETSU) with over 15 years of experience working with children and adolescents. Click
here to read more.
Amanda La Guardia is an assistant professor of counseling and coordinator of the mental health counseling program in the School of Human Services at the University of Cincinnati. Click
here to read more.
ACA Counselor Educator Advocacy Award
Richard Deaner, PhD, LPC, is an associate professor of counselor education and program coordinator at Augusta University, provides clinical supervision to graduates seeking licensure. Click
here to read more.
ACA Federal Legislative Service Award
Judge David Garcia, who presides over veterans and criminal courts in Denton County, Texas, believes the criminal justice system must become trauma-informed to effectively deal with justice-involved veterans. Click
here to read more.
ACA Extended Research Award
Glenn W. Lambie, PhD, NCC, NCS, CCMHC, is a professor of counselor education and the chair of the Department of Child, Family, and Community Sciences at the University of Central Florida. Click
here to read more.
ACA State Branch Advocacy Award
Illinois Counseling Association (ICA) will be celebrating 70 years of service to the counseling profession in 2018. Click
here to read more.
Arthur A. Hitchcock Distinguished Professional Service Award
Casey A. Barrio Minton, PhD, NCC, is an associate professor of counselor education at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. Click
here to read more.
Carl D. Perkins Government Relations Award
Angela McDonald, PhD, LPCS, NCC, is an associate professor in the Department of Educational Leadership and Counseling and the associate dean for the School of Education at the University of North Carolina at Pembroke (UNCP). Click
here to read more.
David K. Brooks, Jr. Distinguished Mentor Award
Joshua C. Watson, PhD, LPC, NCC, ACS, is a professor and addictions counseling program coordinator in the Department of Counseling and Educational Psychology at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi. Click
here to read more.
Don Dinkmeyer Social Interest Award
The New Horizons Family Counseling Center (NHFCC) is a partnership project between the College of William & Mary Counseling Program and seven local school divisions in the Virginia Peninsula region. Click
here to read more.
Dr. Judy Lewis Counselors for Social Justice Award
Brandé Flamez, PhD, LPC, NCC, is a professor at Lamar University and the founder and CEO of SALT (Serving and Learning Together) World Inc., a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing volunteer services to developing countries. Click
here to read more.
Garry R. Walz Trailblazer Award
Lori Russell-Chapin, PhD, LCPC, ACS, CCMHC, is a professor in the College of Education and Health Sciences at Bradley University. Click
here to read more.
Gilbert & Kathleen Wrenn Award for a Humanitarian & Caring Person
Victoria E. Kress, PhD, LPCC-S (OH), NCC, CCMHC, is the director of the clinical mental health and addictions counseling programs at Youngstown State University and director of advocacy for the National Board of Certified Counselors. Click
here to read more.
Robert H. Rencken Emerging Professional Leader Award
Angie Wilson, PhD, is an assistant professor at the University of North Texas (UNT) and a past president of the Texas Association for Counselor Education and Supervision (TACES). Click
here to read more.
Thomas J. Sweeney Award for Visionary Leadership and Advocacy
Don Ward, PhD, directed the Clinical Mental Health Counseling Program at Pittsburg State University for over three decades and was instrumental in maintaining CACREP program accreditation before retiring in December 2016. Click
here to read more.
2017 ACA Fellows
Carol Bobby is a native Ohioan, and practicing counselor and counselor educator, who is currently the longest practicing president and CEO of any counseling organization in the U.S. Click
here to read more.
Donna Gibson, PhD, is an associate professor of counselor education at Virginia Commonwealth University, where she also serves as the coordinator of masters and doctoral programs in counselor education and supervision. Click
here to read more.
Charles F. Gressard, PhD, LPC, NCC, is a chancellor professor in the counseling program at the College of William & Mary and coordinator of the addictions emphasis for the Clinical Mental Health Counseling specialty. Click
here to read more.
W. Bryce Hagedorn, PhD, LMHC, NCC, MAC, is the program director of counselor education at the University of Central Florida. Click
here to read more.
Sharon Robinson Kurpius is a professor at Arizona State University (ASU) who has had a 40-year career in the profession of counseling. Click
here to read more.
Amy Milsom, LPC, LPC-S, NCC, is a professor of counselor education at Clemson University, where she has trained master's and doctoral students in counselor education. Click
here to read more.
Chris Wood, PhD, NCC, NCSC, is an associate professor in the counseling program at UNLV College of Education. Click
here to read more.