2015 Graduate Student Essay Competitions Now Open

Oct 1, 2014

ACA graduate student members are invited to enter the annual essay competitions, sponsored by the American Counseling Association Foundation (ACAF).

Two Grand Prize essayists will receive $1,000, a complimentary 2015 conference registration, a $250 ACA eGift Certificate, and publication of their essay in Counseling Today. Prizes will also be awarded for runner up and honorable mention. Awards will be officially presented at the ACA 2015 Conference & Expo (Orlando: March 12-15).


This year, students must submit an essay on the following: ACA recently approved a significant revision to its Code of Ethics. State your belief as to the fundamental purpose of ethical standards in the counseling profession and how they can be more effectively communicated to the membership and the profession.

Review the new 2014 ACA Code of Ethics, get your creative juices flowing, and participate in one of these competitions:

-Graduate Student Essay Competition - Supported by Gerald and Marianne Corey and Allen and Mary Bradford Ivey (open to all ACA members enrolled in counseling-related graduate studies at an accredited college or university).

-Future School Counselors Essay Competition - Supported by the Roland and Dorothy Ross Trust (open to all ACA members enrolled in counseling-related studies at an accredited college or university leading to a career as a professional school counselor at the elementary, middle, or high school level). Only future school counselors who intend to function in preK-12 educational settings are eligible.


The online application, full competition rules and additional information can be found here. The deadline for essay submissions is December 12, 2014.

Direct questions about the 2015 competitions to essaycontests@counseling.org.