Annual Awards

General Information

The Alabama School Counselor Association accepts nominations for our annual awards through a selection process beginning in August of each year. We accept nominations for the following awards which are presented at the ALSCA Awards Luncheon at the annual ALCA Conference in November. All award recipients (with the exception of Counselor Advocate of the Year and Administrator/Supervisor of the Year) are required to be members of ALCA and ALSCA by the submission deadline.

All nominees for the following awards must have been a practicing school counselor for more than three (3) years. The submissions for these awards are completed through the ALSCA Awards Portal and are aligned with the American School Counselor Association School Counselor of the Year Award. One of the recipients of the state-level School Counselor of the Year Awards will be Alabama’s nominee for the ASCA School Counselor of the Year.

Elementary School Counselor of the Year
This award recognizes a school counselor in a K-6 school or any combination (K-3, 4-5, etc.).

Secondary Counselor of the Year
This award recognizes a school counselor in a middle, junior high school (6-8, 7-8, 7-9, etc.), or high school.

Other Awards

Submissions for the following awards are also completed through the ALSCA Awards Portal, however, these submissions are completed through the “Other Awards” link based on the posted directions and guidelines.

Asa Sparks New Counselor of the Year
This award recognizes a school counselor in any school setting who has been in the position for no more than three (3) years.

Administrator/Supervisor of the Year
This award recognizes someone who provides services for school counselors and operates in an administrative capacity either at the school level or district level in a K-12 school system.

Counselor Advocate of the Year
This award recognizes an individual or group who have given extraordinary support for school counseling programs. This support can stem from political action, it can be community-based, or it can come from parent-teacher associations or other school-based volunteer groups.

ALSCA Nominations for ALCA Awards

All chapters and division of the Alabama Counseling Association are encouraged to submit nominations for the ALCA State Awards. The Alabama School Counselor Association submits nominations for these awards through the ALSCA Governing Board. ALSCA members may submit nominations for consideration by contacting us at alscaboard@gmail.com

This year’s nominees and award winners were recognized at the 2021 ALCA Annual Awards Breakfast at the ALCA Conference in Birmingham. All nominees and ALCA members are encouraged to attend this celebration of counselors from across the state.

ALSCA Annual Awards Recipients

Asa Sparks New Counselor of the Year

2022 – Sarah “Sadie” Sturdivant, Columbia Elementary School, Madison City Schools
2021 – Carissa Davis, Midtown Elementary School, Madison City Schools
2020 – LaTiffany Richardson, Northridge Middle School, Tuscaloosa City Schools
2019 – Cammie Adams, Fairhope High School, Baldwin County Public Schools
2018 – Jan Gay, Summerdale School, Baldwin County Public Schools
2017 – Daniel Birdsong, Creek View Elementary School, Alabaster City Schools
2016 – Amy McIntyre, Hewitt-Trussville Middle School, Trussville City Schools
2015 – Sylvia Hollins, Tuscaloosa Magnet Schools – Elementary, Tuscaloosa City Schools
2014 – Ellen Maple, Hall-Kent Elementary School, Homewood City Schools
2013 – Gwendolyn Bethea, Mobile County Training School, Mobile County Schools
2012- Rachel Rosenberg, Harvest Elementary School, Madison County Schools

Elementary School Counselor of the Year

2022 – Kim Crumbley, Parkside School, Cullman County Schools
2021 – Rebecca Johnson, Daphne Elementary School, Baldwin County Public Schools
2020 – Terri Coleman, Trace Crossings Elementary School, Hoover City Schools
2019 – Laura Reina, Thompson Intermediate School, Alabaster City Schools
2018 – Hayden Belisle, Oak Mountain Elementary School, Shelby County Schools
2017 – Elizabeth Shaddix, West Elementary School, Cullman City Schools
2016 – Mindi Amberson, Wellborn Elementary School, Calhoun County Schools
2015 – Poppy Moon, The Capitol School, Tuscaloosa (private school)
2014 – Christi Jones, Dadeville Elementary School, Dadeville City Schools
2013 -Maegan Vick, Helena Elementary School, Shelby County Schools
2012 – Christy Lessley, Dean Road Elementary School, Auburn City Schools

Secondary School Counselor of the Year

2022 – Diana Virgil, Daleville High School, Daleville City Schools
2021 – Brandi Shanklin, Hillcrest High School, Tuscaloosa County Public Schools
2020 – Amanda Yearwood, West Point High School, Cullman County Schools
2019 – AnnaGrace Baldwin, Homewood Middle School, Homewood City Schools
2018 – Dana Waldrop, Pleasant Grove High School, Jefferson County Schools

Middle School/Junior High School Counselor of the Year

2017 – Denise Perry, Eastwood Middle School, Tuscaloosa City Schools
2016 – Susan Beard, Thompson Sixth Grade Center, Alabaster City Schools
2015 – Jessica Shields, Holtville Middle School, Deatsville City Schools
2014 – Constance Pewee-Childs, Tuscaloosa Magnet Schools – Middle, Tuscaloosa City Schools
2013 – Sandra Carr, Whitesburg P8, Huntsville City Schools
2012 – Sharon Lyerly, Mountain Brook Junior High School, Mountain Brook City Schools

High School Counselor of the Year

2017 – Arlene Merry, Florence Freshman Center, Florence City Schools
2016 – Dr. Taqua Lewis, Center Point High School, Jefferson County Schools
2015 – Karron Standridge, Hayden High School, Blount County Schools
2014 – Amanda Yearwood, West Point High School, Cullman County Schools
2013 -Tiffany Gibson-Pitts, Auburn High School, Auburn City Schools
2012 – Nancy Wolfe, Huntsville High School, Huntsville City Schools

Counselor Advocate of the Year

2021 – Monica Mack, Alabama State Department of Education, Montgomery
2020 – Monica Motley, Mobile County Public Schools
2019 – Sean Stevens, Alabama State Department of Education, Montgomery
2018 – Shelly Johnson, Helena Elementary School and Helena Intermediate School, Shelby County Schools
2017 – Dr. Susan Patrick, Cullman County Schools
2016 – Cindy Davis, Madison City Schools
2015 – Meg Smith, Alabama State Department of Education, Montgomery
2014 – Kaleb Owens and Katie Jewart, Career Coaches, Calhoun Community College, Huntsville
2012 – B.T. Drake, Virgil I. Grissom High School, Huntsville City Schools

Counselor Supervisor of the Year

2022 – Stephanie Allen, Madison City Schools
2021 – Karen Pinion, Cullman County Schools
2020 – Kimberly Walker, Mobile County Public Schools
2019 – Dr. Clarissa Wright-Reese, Birmingham City Schools, Birmingham
2018 – Patrice Davis, Baldwin County Public Schools
2017 – Dr. Amy Upton, University of South Alabama
2016 – Dr. Stephanie Bostick, Elmore County Schools
2015 – Dr. Richard Ferguson, Marshall County Board of Education
2014 – Dr. Stoney Beavers, Blount County Board of Education

Alabama’s Nominee for ASCA Counselor of the Year

2023 – Diana Virgil
2022 – Rebecca Johnson
2021 – Terri Coleman
2020 – AnnaGrace Baldwin
2019 – Hayden Belisle
2018 – Elizabeth Shaddix
2017 – Mindi Amberson
2016 – Karron Standridge
2015 – Christi Jones, Constance Pewee-Childs, and Amanda Yearwood

ALSCA Recipients of ALCA Awards

2022 ALSCA recipients of ALCA Awards

Chapter/Division/Affiliate Program Award – 2021 Critical Issues for Alabama Schools Conference, Shelly Johnson, Professional Development Committee Chair
Chapter/Division/Affiliate Publication Award – ALSCA Website, AnnaGrace Baldwin, Communications Committee Assistant Chair
Chapter/Division/Affiliate Service Award – ALSCA Program of Distinction, Cindy Davis, Program of Distinction Liaison
Dr. Ervin “Chip” L. Wood Distinguished Professional Service Award – AnnaGrace Baldwin
Individual Publication Award – Heather Windham
Jean H. Cecil Distinguished Counselor Educator Award – Dr. Malti Tuttle
Outstanding Member Award – Dr. Amy Upton
Outstanding Practitioner Award – Terica Lewis-Hicks
Wilbur A. Tincher Award for a Humanitarian and Caring Person– Patrice Davis

2021 ALSCA recipients of ALCA Awards

Chapter/Division/Affiliate Program Award – 2021 Critical Issues for Alabama Schools Conference, Shelly Johnson, Professional Development Committee Chair
Chapter/Division/Affiliate Publication Award – ALSCA Website, AnnaGrace Baldwin, Communications Committee Assistant Chair
Chapter/Division/Affiliate Service Award – ALSCA Program of Distinction, Cindy Davis, Program of Distinction Liaison
Individual Publication Award – Dr. Amy Upton
Jean H. Cecil Distinguished Counselor Educator Award – Dr. Laura Hodges
Outstanding Member Award – Casey Lancaster
Wilbur A. Tincher Award for a Humanitarian and Caring Person– Mary Hall

2020 ALSCA recipients of ALCA Awards

Chapter/Division/Affiliate Publication Award – ALSCA Newsletter, Sheryl Smith, Communications Committee Chair
Chapter/Division/Affiliate Service Award – ALSCA Website, AnnaGrace Baldwin, Communications Committee Assistant Chair
Distinguished Professional Service Award – Sean Stevens
Fannie R. Cooley Award for Distinguished Professional Development – Dr. Charlotte Daughhetee
Individual Publication Award – Dr. Laura Hodges
Outstanding Member Award – Dr. LaWanda Edwards

2019 ALSCA recipients of ALCA Awards

Chapter/Division Program Award – 2019 Regional Workshops featuring Dr. Carolyn Stone, Shelly Johnson, Professional Development Committee Chair
Chapter/Division Publication Award – ALSCA Newsletter, Sheryl Smith, Communications Committee Chair
Distinguished Professional Service Award – Cindy Davis
Jean H. Cecil Distinguished Counselor Educator Award – Dr. LaWanda Edwards
Outstanding Member Award – AnnaGrace Baldwin
Wilbur A. Tincher Award for a Humanitarian and Caring Person – Dr. Vincent Hinton