Professional Awards and Recognition 

Click here to view photographs of the award ceremony

Region and State COY Awards

2009 – 2010 GSCA State Winners; Front Row: Left to Right- Dr. Rhonda Bryant, Counselor Educator of the Year; Dr. Yuehong Chen Foley, State Writer of the Year; Denise Eccleston, State Elementary COY; Sonya Wright, GSCA President; Dr. Emily Felton, P.R. Co-Chair; Dr. Beatrice Allen, P.R. Co-Chair; Dr. Reather Waller Professional Recognition Chair; Michael Brian Law, State High School COY; Dr. Richard Holland, State Advocate of the Year; Maria Grovner, State Middle School COY.

2009 -10 GSCA Region Winners Front Row: Left to Right- Dr. Beatrice Allen, P.R. Co-Chair; Dr. Yuehong Chen Foley, Writer of the Year; GSCA President, Sonya Wright;Denise Eccleston, Region 2 Elementary COY; Dr. Rhonda Bryant, Counselor Educator of the Year; Dr. Emily Felton, P.R. Co-Chair;   Back Row: Left to Right– Dr. Reather Hunter Waller, Professional Recognition Chair, Shellie Caplinger, Region 3 High School COY; Maria Grovner, Region 2 Middle School COY; Michael Brian Law, Region 11 High School COY; Dr. Richard Holland, Region 2 Advocate of the Year; Aundra Simmons Vaughn, Region 12 Middle School COY; Cary Kennedy, Region 2 High School COY. Not Pictured:  Dr. Robert Daria, Region 4 Advocate of the Year; Valdosta Technical College, Region 11 Advocate of the Year – Brooke Hamrick, Enrollment Advancement Coordinator; Emily Ryan, Stay-inSchoolGrant Coordinator & Bill Tillman, Tech Prep Coordinator.

2009 GSCA Professional Recognition Awards
Criteria for Evaluation of Packets

All packets judged by the State Awards Committee will be screened by each Region Chair and the Professional Recognition Chair to ensure that they meet the GSCA “Procedures and Requirements for Nomination” guidelines. This process duplicates the requirements for ASCA recognition. The committee’s job is to select a state winner for each category, if represented, from the region winners. The eligibility requirements for each candidate will be checked prior to being reviewed by the State Awards Committee.

The following point system will be used to rate specific criteria:

5 – Meets criteria to an exceptional degree
4 – Meets criteria to an above average degree
3 – Meets criteria to an average degree
2 – Meets criteria to a minimum degree
1 – Does not meet criteria or no evidence present

Packet must include the following in order listed:

• Official GSCA nomination form must be stapled as the cover of each packet (not part of 16 pages).
• Letter of nomination from the nominator containing a description of the contribution for which you are being nominated.
• Vita for the nominee (not more than two pages front and back)
• Program statement not more than three (3) pages, front and back, describing the program, activity or contribution demonstrating your worthiness to receive the award. The program, activity, or contribution must have occurred within the last five (5) years.
• 10 (ten) supplemental pages including:
  
  • 4 letters
    • 1 from administrator/supervisor
    • 1 from colleague
    • 2 from parent/student/community
  • Other supporting documentation on six (6) remaining pages

• Do you have the Information Sheet for GSCA Professional Recognition attached to the GSCA color copy with a photo imported at the bottom?
• Have you secured each packet with a sturdy staple in the upper left corner? NOTE: Laminated pages, plastic page covers, heavy covers, notebooks, or metal ring binders are NOT ACCEPTABLE.

Region Deadline

Your Region Chair must receive your packets postmarked no later than April 1, 2010. See below for Region Chair contact information.

Professional Recognition Timetable

Fall

• System nominates its counselor, advocate, etc., of the year. OR the decision to nominate a counselor, advocate, etc. of the year is made.

Winter/Spring

• Nominator should assist the nominee with these tasks
• Plan what to include in the packet
• Confirm association memberships (GSCA/ASCA). You must be a member of GSCA/ASCA prior to December 1, 2009. NOTE: Not required for advocate or legislator nominee
• Have a black and white or color photograph taken
• Contact person(s) to write any letters of support desired (see requirements)
• Organize vita
• Gather supplementary evidence to include in packet (i.e. articles, photos, memos, programs, etc.)
• Write a statement describing programs, activities and/or contributions that have occurred in the last five (5) years 
  

Spring

• Refer to the GSCA checklist
• Have nomination form and letters of support completed
  
• Be sure that nominator is GSCA/ASCA member
  
• If you are the writing nominee, have available a copy of your publication
  
• Have several people proofread your packet
  
• Double-check your packet against the GSCA checklist
  
• Compile your final packet. Be sure it contains no more than sixteen (16) stapled pages total front and back. GSCA Nomination form and GSCA Information Sheet are NOT part of sixteen (16) pages. Please staple the GSCA Nomination form to all packets.
  
• Make six (6) clean, clear copies on white paper of your packet. Five (5) of the copies should be in black and white with identifying information omitted/deleted. One (1) copy should be in color for GSCA records.
  
• NOTE: The one (1) packet for GSCA records must include the GSCA Information Sheet with a black and white or color photo imported at the bottom of the page. Please attach the GSCA Information Sheet with a paperclip to the color copy.
  
• Mail or deliver six (6) copies to your Region Chair well ahead of region deadline (April 1st). It is advisable to follow up with the “Region Chair” to make sure your packets were received.
  
• If at any time you have questions, contact your Region Chair or the GSCA Professional Recognition Chairperson.
  

GSCA Professional Recognition Awards Checklist and Criteria

This checklist will help you to complete your nomination packet with ease and reduce the possibility of disqualification. Please check the packet items and requirements carefully:

• Are you currently employed as a full-time school counselor in the year of nomination? Do you hold a Master’s degree or equivalent in Guidance and Counseling? (Does not apply to Legislator of the Year award or Advocate of the Year award)
• Have you been a school counselor for at least three consecutive years in the level of nomination? (For example: You must have been an elementary school counselor for three consecutive years. You did not have to reside at the same school or in the same state all three years.
• Has your program/activity/contribution occurred within the past five (5) years? NOTE: Writer Award – three (3) years
• Were you a member of GSCA/ASCA prior to December 1, 2009? NOTE: Not required for advocate or legislator nominee
• Is your nominator a member of GSCA/ASCA?
• Does your packet contain no more than sixteen (16) stapled pages, NOT including the Nomination Form or Information sheet? Remember “one page” means front and back of one (1) sheet. Do you have five (5) black and white copies with identifying information omitted? Do you have one color copy with the Information Sheet attached for GSCA records?
• Writer Award – Publication must have occurred within the past three (3) years. The Writer’s packet must include the information sheet with photo, the GSCA nomination form, the statement of rationale for nomination, at least one letter of support, nominee’s vitae, and one copy of the publication(s). Identifying information does not have to be omitted.
• Is your packet on white paper?

Region Chair Contact Information

#1 Rosanne Ferrell rferrell@paulding.k12.ga.us
#2 Dana Booker Dana_booker@gwinnett.k12.ga.us
#3 G. Mark Ellis ellisg@fultonschools.org
#4 Sarah Knuth Ganole70@hotmail.com
#5 Debbie Harnois dharnois@mcsdga.net
#6 Dr. Delicia Fellers Delicia.fellers@henry.k12.ga.us
#7 Lisa S. Brown lbrown.rutlandms@bibb.k12.ga.us
#8 Laurie Montgomery 1fm628@comcast.net
#9 Michelle Rhodes mrhodes@montgomery.k12.ga.us
#10 Stacey Klias Stacey.klias@docoschools.org
#11 Almeta Owens almtmeta@windstream.net
#12 Tori Jackson tjackson@liberty.k12.ga.us

Click here to download the GSCA Professional Recognition Awards Criteria for Evaluation of Packets, Time Table, Awards Checklist, Information Sheet and the Nomination Form.

Questions? Contact Reather Waller