Robert Rencken Emerging Professional Leader Award

Created in 2006, the Robert H. Rencken Emerging Professional Leader Award recognizes an ACA member who has demonstrated the potential to become a dedicated leader of the counseling profession in future years.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE
Dr. Robert H. Rencken, in addition to being a vital contributor to ACA, served as president of the Arizona Counseling Association and executive director of the Arizona Counseling Association for 14 years. He played a pivotal role in the creation of both the American Mental Health Counselors Association (AMHCA) and the state division of AMHCA in Arizona and devoted much of his career to the advancement of counselor credentialing at the state and national levels.

SUBMISSION DEADLINE
January 15, 2025 | 11:59pm ET

AWARD NOTIFICATION
February 17, 2025

JUDGES
ACA Awards Committee

PRIZE
Complimentary registration for the 2025 ACA Conference and Expo (March 27-29, 2025 | Orlando, FL) and recognition during the event. Winners will receive further information at the time of award notification.

Sponsor:The American Counseling Association Foundation

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ELIGIBILITY, RULES AND CRITERIA

Nominees must have:

Been an ACA state branch or state division president;
Held at least one, but no more than three, ACA national, division or region offices or board or committee chair positions;
Been a member of ACA for at least three years;
Shown ability as a new leader in the counseling profession; and
A master’s degree in counseling or a closely related profession.
Nominations must come from an ACA member.
The awardee must be an ACA member.
An individual can only be nominated for one award per year.

NOMINATION GUIDELINES

The total submission package for this award cannot exceed 16 pages in length. All nomination materials must be combined into one document (all formats accepted), with the nomination letter first.

Nomination letter: In the letter, identify the nominee and the specific award. Explain why you believe the nominee should receive the award by responding to the specific criteria outlined in the nomination guidelines. Keep in mind that the awards reviewers are relying on the information you provide to choose the most deserving recipient for the award. Please address each nomination guideline and make sure your nominee meets the award criteria and requirements. Brevity, clarity and specificity are most important here.

In your nomination letter, briefly:

Describe some examples of the nominee’s association leadership at local, state or national levels.
Explain how this leadership relates to the advancement of the counseling profession in general or to one or more of the ACA division or organizational affiliates.

Supporting materials: Include a nominee biography and a maximum of two letters in support of the nomination from others familiar with the nominee and her or his accomplishments. If there are additional materials (news reports, journal articles, etc.) that you feel help support the nominee’s achievements, please include a copy of them. You may also include a copy of the nominee’s curriculum vitae (CV) or resume of no more than four pages, highlighting the nominee’s relevant accomplishments, if available. Keep in mind that the total submission cannot exceed 16 pages in length.