KSCA Awards

For the 2022-2023 Awards, please visit our new award page: https://kansasschoolcounselor.org/awards/

2020-2021 KSCA Awards

Press Release:

The Kansas School Counselor Association (KSCA) announced the recipients of their annual awards at the KCA & KSCA Counseling Conference. Nominations were submitted to KSCA and an awards committee consisting of school counselors, school counselor educators and school administrators reviewed the applications to make the selection for the awards. 

The KSCA School Counselor of the Year is selected on the criteria of school counseling innovations, effective school counseling programs, leadership and advocacy skills, and contributions to student achievement. Amanda Atkins, School Counselor at Sunset Hill Elementary in Lawrence was named the 2022 School Counselor of the Year. Amanda Atkins will represent Kansas in the selection process for the 2021 American School Counselor Association School Counselor of the Year and will travel to Washington D.C. to be considered along with other state representatives for the National School Counselor of the Year Award.

There were many great nominations this year for School Counselor of the Year. The Kansas School Counselor Association (KSCA) also honored state finalists, Christie M. Henderson from Blackmore Elementary and Emily Baker from Seaman Middle School. 

The Kansas School Counselor Association (KSCA) Hall of Fame Award which is designed to recognize distinguished service to the School Counseling Profession was awarded to Jillian Toews, School Counselor at Hesston Middle School. 

The Kansas School Counselor Association (KSCA) Promise Award recognizes emerging school counselors showing promise and was awarded to Emily Manker, School Counselor at Santa Fe Trail Middle School in Olathe School District.

In addition, the Kansas School Counselor Association recognized the KSCA Principal Advocate Award winners. This award recognizes the important partnership of school counselors and school administrators in providing services to Kansas schools.

The three principal advocate award winners were:

Larry Moore - Prairie View Elementary School

Chad Schuetz - Blackmore Elementary

Keith Hoffman - Clay Center Community Middle School 

The Kansas School Counselor Association is a state professional organization and a division of the American School Counselor Association. Both organizations assist school counselors in the work they do through comprehensive school counseling programs. School Counselors are professionals who assist all students in academic achievement, career planning and social-emotional development.

2019-2020 KSCA Awards

Press Release:

The Kansas School Counselor Association (KSCA) announced at the Emporia State University Fall Counseling Conference, the recipients of their annual awards. Mistie Knox, School Counselor at Clifton-Clyde High School, was named the 2019 School Counselor of the Year.

There were 77 nominations this year for School Counselor of the Year. The Kansas School Counselor Association (KSCA) also honored state finalists, Marcie Frederickson, School Counselor at Washburn Rural High School, and Terri DeGeer, School Counselor at Erie High School. Mistie Knox will represent Kansas in the selection process for the 2020 American School Counselor Association School Counselor of the Year. Mrs. Knox will travel to Washington D.C. and be considered along with other state representatives for the National School Counselor of the Year Award.

Nominations for the school counselor awards program are submitted to KSCA and an awards committee consisting of school counselors, school counselor educators and school administrators review the applications to make the selection for the awards. The KSCA School Counselor of the Year is selected on the criteria of school counseling innovations, effective school counseling programs, leadership and advocacy skills, and contributions to student achievement.

In addition, the Kansas School Counselor Association announced the KSCA Principal Advocate Award winners. This award recognizes the important partnership of school counselors and school administrators in providing services to Kansas schools.

The three principal advocate award winners are:

Dave Holloway - Manhattan High School - East Campus

Jacque Feist - Dodge City High School 

Nathan West - Neodesha High School 

The Kansas School Counselor Association is a state professional organization and a division of the American School Counselor Association. Both organizations assist school counselors in the work they do through comprehensive school counseling programs. School Counselors are professionals who assist all students in academic achievement, career planning and social-emotional development.

2018-2019 KSCA Awards

Press Release:

The Kansas School Counselor Association (KSCA) announced at the Emporia State University Fall Counseling Conference, the recipients of their annual awards. Alicia Jackson, School Counselor at Olathe West High School in the Olathe School District, was named the 2018 School Counselor of the Year. 

The Kansas School Counselor Association (KSCA) also honored state finalist, Nicole Becker, School Counselor at Northview Elementary School in the Olathe School District. 

Alicia Jackson will represent Kansas in the selection process for the 2019 American School Counselor Association School Counselor of the Year. Mrs. Jackson will travel to Washington D.C. and be considered along with other state representatives for the National School Counselor of the Year Award. 

Nominations for the school counselor awards program are submitted to KSCA and an awards committee consisting of school counselors, school counselor educators and school administrators review the applications to make the selection for the awards. The KSCA School Counselor of the Year is selected on the criteria of school counseling innovations, effective school counseling programs, leadership and advocacy skills, and contributions to student achievement. 

In addition, the Kansas School Counselor Association announced the KSCA Principal Advocate Award winners. This award recognizes the important partnership of school counselors and school administrators in providing services to Kansas schools. 

The three principal advocate award winners are:

Sean Bohon - Manchester Park Elementary, Olathe School District 

Heather Oentrich - Junction City Middle School, Geary County School District 

Evan Yoder - Hillsboro Elementary, Hillsboro School District 

The Kansas School Counselor Association is a state professional organization and a division of the American School Counselor Association. Both organizations assist school counselors in the work they do through comprehensive school counseling programs. School Counselors are professionals who assist all students in academic achievement, career planning and social-emotional development. 

2017-2018 KSCA Awards

Press Release:

Kansas School Counselor Association (KSCA) recently announced the recipients of their annual school counseling awards.  Teryl Goeckel, School Counselor at Washington County Junior/Senior High School, USD #108, was named the 2017 KSCA Outstanding School Counselor of the Year.  The announcement was made on November 9th at the KSDE 68th Fall School Counseling Conference at Emporia State University.  

The Kansas School Counselor Association (KSCA) also honored two state finalists along with Mrs. Goeckel.   

• Ali Busch, Marysville Junior/Senior High School, USD #364

• Melanie Scott, Dodge City High School, USD #443  

Teryl Goeckel will represent Kansas in the selection process for the 2019 American School Counselor Association School Counselor of the Year.  Mrs. Goeckel will travel to Washington D.C. and be considered along with other state representatives for the National School Counselor of the Year Award.  

Nominations for the school counselor awards program are submitted to the Kansas School Counselor Association.   An awards committee consisting of school counselors, school counselor educators and school administrators review the applications to make selections for the awards.   The KSCA School Counselor of the Year is selected on several criteria:  school counseling innovations, effective school counseling programs, leadership and advocacy skills, and contributions to student advancement.  

In addition, the Kansas School Counselor Association announced their Hall of Fame Award.  Dr. Rebecca Brannock was honored as the KSCA 2017 Hall of Fame recipient.  Dr. Brannock currently serves as University Professor and School Counseling Program Director at Pittsburg State University.  The KSCA Hall of Fame Award is designed to recognize distinguished service to the School Counseling Profession.  

Additional awards were presented at the annual luncheon.   They include the KSCA Principal Advocate Award.  This state award recognizes the important partnership of school counselors and school administrators in providing services and resources to Kansas students and families.

Three outstanding Kansas School Administrators were recognized with the 2017 KSCA Principal Advocate Award.  The recipients are…

• Art Baker -  Clifton-Clyde High School, Clyde, KS  

• Dr. Sarah Guerrero – Indian Trail Middle School, Olathe, KS 

• Doug Wilson – Ell-Saline Middle/High School, Brookville, KS   

The Kansas School Counselor Association is a state professional organization and a division of the American School Counselor Association.  Both organizations assist school counselors in the work they do through school counseling programs.   School counselors are professionals who assist all students in academic achievement, career planning, and social-emotional development to promote success in school and life.

2016-2017 Awards