Professional Recognition Awards

This award honors an outstanding school counselor whose career exemplifies a steadfast commitment to Wisconsin students and the school counseling profession. These individuals lead data-driven, comprehensive school counseling programs that foster academic achievement, social-emotional growth, and career readiness for all students. They advocate fiercely for subgroups of students who face barriers to opportunity, ensuring that every learner has access to the resources, support, and encouragement needed to succeed. Through purposeful collaboration within their schools and across the broader community, they build partnerships that strengthen student success. Their leadership extends beyond the local level, influencing the profession through service, innovation, and advocacy at the state level, creating a profound and enduring impact on both students’ lives and the future of school counseling.

Click here to nominate an educator for the School Counselor of the Year Award

This award honors a school counselor or team of school counselors who have made a lasting impact by expanding access, removing barriers, and creating opportunities for every student to succeed. The recipient has led meaningful, systemic improvements that ensure all students, regardless of background, identity, or circumstance, have the support, resources, and encouragement they need to reach their full potential. Through vision, advocacy, and action, this awardee inspires positive change that strengthens the entire school community.

Click here to nominate an educator or group of educators for the Changemaker Award

Celebrates a school counseling team whose collective advocacy, leadership, systemic change efforts, and collaboration make a measurable difference for all students. Teams demonstrate the power of working together toward a shared purpose, integrating each team member’s strengths to impact systemic change that addresses students academic, social/emotional, and career development needs. Through unified action and shared responsibility, the team achieves measurable, positive outcomes supported by data and examples that have a lasting impact on student achievement and school communities.

Click here to nominate a group of educators for the School Counseling Team Award

The lifetime achievement award celebrates a school counselor whose career reflects decades of dedication to the profession. Nominees have served 15+ years and demonstrate consistent excellence in delivering comprehensive school counseling programs, nurturing generations of students, and contributing meaningfully to their school and community as professional leaders. This award honors the sustained influence of a career defined by commitment, mentorship, and service; leaving an enduring impact.

Click here to nominate an educator for the Lifetime Achievement Award

The Rising Star Award honors a practicing school counselor with five years or less of professional experience who is already making a notable impact in their school community. The school counselor exemplifies excellence and dedication to serving the needs of each and every student. This counselor approaches their work with fresh ideas and a commitment to ensuring every student feels seen, supported, and capable of success. They actively identify and address obstacles that may limit student potential, adapt services to meet diverse needs, and foster a welcoming, inclusive environment. The counselor shows exceptional promise through professional competence, meaningful contributions to their school community, and the ability to form strong, positive connections with students, families, and colleagues.

Click here to nominate an educator for the Rising Star Award

Previously known as the Mike Troy Graduate Student Scholarship, this is a new award to highlight an outstanding school counseling graduate student and will include a $500 grant from WSCA. This award honors a graduate student in a school counseling preparation program who exemplifies the highest standards of professional promise and commitment to the field, demonstrating exceptional cultural competence and ethical practice while skillfully applying these principles to meet the diverse needs of students, families, and school communities. The recipient also shows strong initiative and a clear understanding of implementing a data-driven school counseling program, using data to guide decisions, shape interventions, and measure impact. Through their work, the graduate student reflects a readiness to lead, collaborate, and advocate for effective school counseling services that improve academic, social/emotional, and career outcomes for all students.

– The nominee must be currently enrolled in an accredited university school counseling graduate program at the time the award is presented (November 2026)

– The nominator and the graduate student must be WSCA Members to be awarded this scholarship

Click here to nominate a graduate student for the Graduate Student Award

This award honors a faculty member or instructor employed by an accredited graduate program preparing future school counselors who has made significant contributions to the preparation, mentorship, and professional growth of the next generation of school counseling professionals. Applicants will have demonstrated a deep commitment to developing highly skilled, compassionate, and ethical counselors through exemplary teaching, supervision, research, and service. They create learning environments that bridge theory and practice, inspire counselor candidates to embrace their role as advocates for all students, and provide consistent guidance, encouragement, and constructive feedback. In addition to their work in the classroom, they extend their influence into the field, actively engaging with the school counseling community, contributing to professional organizations, advancing the profession through scholarship, and collaborating with K–12 schools to ensure counselor preparation remains current and impactful. Through their dedication, passion, and leadership, these individuals leave a lasting imprint on both their students and the school counseling profession as a whole.

Click here to nominate an educator for the Counselor Educator Award

The Mary Gehrke-McAllister Leadership Award honors an individual who has provided outstanding leadership by driving meaningful progress in the school counseling profession through vision, initiative, and influence. Recipients will have led significant efforts, such as launching innovative programs, shaping policy, fostering collaboration across systems, or building capacity in others, that have strengthened the profession. The award winner will be an individual whose vision, influence, and actions have advanced the school counseling profession at the state and/or national level. In addition, they will have led transformative efforts, such as shaping policy, creating innovative programs, or building strategic partnerships, that have strengthened school counseling practice far beyond their own school or district. This award seeks to recognize the breadth and reach of leadership that has impacted and elevated the profession’s visibility, effectiveness, and value across Wisconsin and beyond. This recognition focuses on the scope and effectiveness of leadership efforts, rather than the length of service, and celebrates those who have inspired change and advanced the profession’s mission.

Click here to nominate an educator for the Mary Gehrke-McAllister Leadership Award

These awards honor the many unique ways individuals contribute to the profession, from behind-the-scenes champions to innovative trailblazers.

Please Note For All Spotlight Awards:

-School counselors are highly encouraged to collaborate when preparing and submitting a nomination to ensure a strong, comprehensive application.

-Submissions for this award will be accepted only from school counselors who are current WSCA members.

-The spotlight recognitions are some of WSCA’s most cherished awards, celebrating exceptional contributions to the school counseling profession. We value quality over quantity; multiple applications for the same nominee will not strengthen their candidacy. If more than one application is submitted, only the first received will be reviewed.

A. Supervisor-Administrator Award
Honors a school or district leader who has demonstrated outstanding commitment to the success of school counseling programs. Recipients champion the role of school counselors, foster environments where comprehensive counseling services can thrive, and actively support initiatives that promote student academic, career, and social/emotional development.

B. Administrative Assistant / Support Staff Award   
Celebrates the invaluable contributions of school or district staff members whose dedication and behind-the-scenes efforts enhance and elevate the work of school counselors. Recipients create a welcoming, organized, and efficient environment that allows counselors to focus on meeting the needs of every student.

C. Friend of School Counseling Award 
Recognizes individuals, such as parents, volunteers, educators, or community members, who have made a lasting difference for school counseling through their leadership, advocacy, or steadfast support. Honorees champion the mission of school counseling, building partnerships and contributing in ways that empower counselors and enrich student outcomes.

Click here to nominate an individual for one of the Spotlight Awards

The Jerome Henning Legislator Award recognizes a legislator whose leadership and advocacy have significantly advanced the school counseling profession. Honorees demonstrate a deep understanding of the vital role school counselors play in student success and have worked to shape policy or legislation that strengthens counseling services and supports the well-being of all students.

This award does not have a nomination form. If you would like to nominate a legislator, please email scholarship@wscaweb.org to share your story.