Criteria for All Awards | A. Nominees should maintain the highest standards of personal conduct. They strive to be model citizens of their community as well as the school counseling education community and their broader professional community. B. The nominee must demonstrate evidence of the implementation of the ASCA National Model®. The nominee must demonstrate leadership, advocacy and collaboration in his or her work. C. The nominee has demonstrated consistent and reliable contributions in all the areas of service, scholarship and teaching over an exemplary career span. |
WSCA's School Counselor of the Year program honors the best of the best in Washington State -- school counselors who are running a top-notch, comprehensive school counseling program at either the elementary, middle or high school level. The winner of this newly structured program will be nominated by our state association for consideration in the ASCA School Counselor of the Year program.Nominee must be a current member of WSCA as of February 1, 2024, be employed as a full-time, practicing school counselor, and have completed at least three years as a practicing school counselor. The winner of this award will be nominated by our state association for consideration in the ASCA School Counselor of the Year program and be invited to join a paid trip to DC for an ASCA recognition ceremony. |
The College and Career Counselor of the Year award is given to an individual who provides strong support of the comprehensive guidance model and holds a clear vision of how career counseling should be integrated with the academic and personal/social development of students. |
The Advocate of the Year award recognizes an individual’s dedication to the profession of education and the student’s of Washington state. This individual goes above and beyond the normal demands of their profession to advocate for school counselors. |
The Equity in Action Award is to recognize a school counselor who has made significant contributions to the advancement of equity in education for students in Washington. This individual demonstrates a commitment to closing equity gaps within their comprehensive counseling program. Nominee must be a current member of WSCA as of February 1, 2025. |
The purpose of the Counseling Director/Administrator award is to recognize a supervisor or director whose leadership and outstanding services have had a positive impact on the guidance and counseling field for counselors on a local or state level. Eligibility for ConsiderationA. The nominee must be a director or administrator who has consistently made a significant contribution to the improvement of school counseling services. B. The nominee must be currently employed as an administrator, coordinator or director of district or state counseling services and have completed at least three years of service. The nominee's primary responsibility must be in working with programs at the elementary, middle/junior high, secondary or multi-level. |
The Rising Star Award recognizes individuals who have entered the school counseling profession within the last four years. The award winner is a model for new counselors demonstrating the highest standards of professional competence, outstanding contributions to the school community and/or profession, and has demonstrated strong rapport with students, parents, and school personnel, as well as shown leadership potential. Nominee must be a current member of WSCA as of February 1, 2025. |
RAMP Recognition | WSCA recognizes Washington School Counseling Programs that have earned RAMP Recognition as awarded through the American School Counselor Association (ASCA). The WSCA board will track recognized programs internally through ASCA’s RAMP database and these programs will be acknowledged at WSCA’s annual conference. |