ACA Awards Recognize Achievement and Excellence in Professional Counseling

Orlando, Fla. (March 27, 2025) — Each year, the American Counseling Association (ACA) recognizes excellence in research, career and humanitarian achievement among counseling professionals and students with its awards and honors program. This year’s awards will be presented at the 2025 ACA Conference & Expo in Orlando, held March 27–March 29.

Fellows Award
Daniel Gutierrez, PhD, LPC, CSAC

Best Practices in Research Award for Faculty
Lindsey A. Lundeen, PhD, LPC, NCC, University of Arkansas
Jennifer K. Niles, PhD, NCC, NCSC, ACS, The University of North Carolina at Greensboro

Best Practices in Research Award for Students
Kahyen Shin, MEd, NCC, Syracuse University

Counselor Educator Advocacy Award
Carrie A. Wachter Morris, PhD, NCC, ACS, The University of North Carolina at Greensboro

Extended Research Award
Elizabeth A. Prosek, PhD, LPC, NCC, The Pennsylvania State University

Professional Development Award
John P. Duggan, LPC, LCPC, LSATP, Marymount University

Research Award
Sojeong Nam, PhD, LMHC, NCC, The University of New Mexico

Arthur A. Hitchcock Distinguished Professional Service Award
Andrea Brooks, PhD, LPCC-S, Central Methodist University

Courtland C. Lee Multicultural Excellence Scholarship Award
Büşra Vurkun, PhD, Old Dominion University

David K. Brooks, Jr. Distinguished Mentor Award
Barbara Herlihy, PhD, NCC, ACA Fellow, The University of Texas at San Antonio

Don Dinkmeyer Social Interest Award
Katherine M. Wood, PhD, CPSC, LCSW, Tennessee Technological University

Dr. Judy Lewis Counselors for Social Justice Award
Pamela N. Harris, PhD, LPC, NCC, ACS, The College of William and Mary

Garry R. Walz Trailblazer Award
J. Scott Young, PhD, ACA Fellow, The University of North Carolina at Greensboro

Gilbert and Kathleen Wrenn Award for a Humanitarian and Caring Person
Hannah B. Bayne, PhD, LPC, Virginia Tech

Glen E. Hubele National Graduate Student Award
Priyanka Jha, MSc, ABD, Northern Illinois University

Kitty Cole Human Rights Award
David A. Olges, PhD, MBA, LMHC, Southern New Hampshire University

Robert H. Rencken Emerging Professional Leader Award
Sarah Evans Zalewski, PhD, NCC, BC-TMH, ACS, LPC, Central Connecticut University

S. Kent Butler Transformative Impact Award
Frank Gorritz FitzSimons, PhD, LPC, LMHC, NCC, Florida Gulf Coast University

Thelma T. Daley Advocacy and Equity Award
Janeé Avent Harris, PhD, LCMHCA, NCC, East Carolina University

Thomas Hohenshil National Publication Award
Melissa Luke, PhD, ACA Fellow, Syracuse University

Thomas J. Sweeney Award for Visionary Leadership and Advocacy
Kelly L. Wester, PhD, LCMHC, NCC, The University of North Carolina at Greensboro

STUDENT ESSAY AWARDS

Future School Counselors Essay Competition

This award recognizes graduate counseling students with exceptional insight and understanding about the school counseling profession. The theme for this year’s competition was “How can school counselors help students address personal/social issues that are impacting their success in school? What do you believe is the most pressing issue, and how will they be able to demonstrate and document their effectiveness?”

Grand Prize
Natasha Hennessy, MA LCMH; Adams State University

First Prize
Hyuncheol Yoon, MEd; University of Florida

Second Prize
Zhi Jie Lee, MEd; The Ohio State University

Honorable Mention
Jessica Lin, MA; New York University

Tomorrow’s Counselors Essay Competition

This award recognizes graduate counseling students with exceptional insight and understanding about the counseling profession. The theme for this year’s competition was “Artificial intelligence (AI) is increasingly prominent and expanding. What are the strengths and limitations of using AI when counseling clients, and what are the relevant practice, ethical and legal implications of its use in counseling?”

Grand Prize
Huan Feng; University of Florida College of Education

First Prize
Anida Phobic, MALS; Northwestern University

Second Prize
Elizabeth Anne Hebert, BS; Louisiana State University

Honorable Mention
Magdalena R. O’Leary; Adams State University
Elizabeth Duston Reed; Midwestern State University

ETHICS COMPETITION

Graduate Student Ethics Competition

This award recognizes master’s and doctoral counseling students who demonstrate exceptional understanding of the ACA Code of Ethics.

First Place, Doctoral
Virginia Commonwealth University
Tara Cothren, MEd, LPC
Elizabeth Kurt, MS, LPC (WI), NCC
Emily Kitching, MEd, NCC, NCSC
Margaret M. Poandl, MA, LPC
Patrick R. Mullen, PhD, NCC, NCSC, ACS, Advisor

Second Place, Doctoral
Oakland University
Liala Reece, MA, LLC
Cierra Valles, MA, MEd, C-IAYT
Edward Werdene, MA
Michael P. Chaney, PhD, LPC, ACS, ACA Fellow, Advisor

Third Place, Doctoral
University of the Cumberlands
Audrey Akers, MEd, LPCC-S
Kelly Crawford Mason, MA, NCC, LPC, PhD Candidate
Jerry L. Mize, MA, MEd, NCC
Kristen M. Roush, MAEd, NCC, LPC/LPCC
Colleen Grunhaus, PhD, LCMHC, ACS, NCC, Advisor

First Place, Masters
Yeshiva University
Yerson Faber Torres Cubillos, MEd
Emily Present, MFA
Austin Prock, MA
Stella Kim Hansen, PhD, LMHC, Advisor

Second Place, Masters
Winebrenner Theological Seminary
Kasey Summerer, ThM
Caroline Wilson, BA
Avory Winans, BA, EMT-B
Mary Liames, PhD, LSC, Advisor

Third Place, Masters
University of Wisconsin-Whitewater
Dylan Bergen, BA
Camile Mejia, BS
Allison Porch, MLS, MIS
Gina Martin, PhD, LPC, NCC, Advisor