Awards

About NCCA Awards

Each year, the North Carolina Counseling Association recognizes professional excellence and service with the following awards. Members will be notified of the nomination process which begins in November, and awards are presented at the NCCA Annual Conference in February. Nominations must be made by members of NCCA. Nominees must be members of NCCA with the exception of the Administrator of the Year and Special Citizen’s Merit Award.

Congratulations 2021 winners recognized at the 2022 Conference!

  • Innovation/Creativity in Counseling Award – Raven Gibbs
  • Professional Writing and/or Research Award – Dr. Russ Curtis
  • Beginning Counselor Award – Amanda McLeroy
  • Devoted Service Award – Dr. Sharon Webb
  • Special Citizen’s Merit Award – Ashley Cannan
  • Don C. Locke Multicultural & Social Justice Award – Dr. Camila Pulgar
  • Jane E. Myers Wellness Counseling Award – Dr. Gigi Hamilton

The Ella Stephens Barrett Award for Excellence in Professional Leadership

The Ella Stephens Barrett Award for excellence in professional leadership is the most coveted honor bestowed by NCCA. This award honors the memory of Miss Ella Stephens Barrett, former state supervisor of Guidance Services, and recognizes a NCCA member who has displayed outstanding leadership in the improvement and enhancement of the counseling profession.

  • 2020 – Mark Schwarze
  • 2019 – Angela Brooks-Livingston
  • 2017 – J. Scott Glass
  • 2016 – Stanley Baker
  • 2015 – Christina Rosen
  • 2014 – Sarah Moore Brookshire
  • 2013 – Louise Glenn
  • 2012 – Stanley Baker

Administrator of the Year Award

The Administrator of the Year Award is designed to recognize someone who has advanced or given support to the philosophy and objectives of one or more of the helping professions. The term administrator is defined as anyone employed in a supervisory or administrative position in an educational or service rendering agency.

  • 2020 – Peggy Whiting
  • 2019 – Noreal Armstrong
  • 2018 – Molly Hayes
  • 2017 – Sarah Dunagan
  • 2016 – Angela McDonald
  • 2015 – Mark Schwarze
  • 2014 – Kylie P. Dotson-Blake
  • 2013 – J. Scott Young

Innovation/Creativity in Counseling Award

The Innovation/Creativity in Counseling Award recognizes unusual, exemplary achievement by members. This award could be given for activities such as new program development, use of special talents or unusual approaches to meet the needs of clients and other audiences.

  • 2020 – Loni Crumb
  • 2019 – Raymond Ting
  • 2018 – Nicole Stargell
  • 2017 – Angie Smith
  • 2016 – Dominique Hammonds
  • 2015 – Laura Bethea
  • 2013 – Marc Gimmett

Professional Writing and/or Research Award

The Professional Writing and/or Research Award recognizes a member who has contributed to the profession through significant writing and/or research.

  • 2020 – Lucy Purgason
  • 2019 – Janeé Avent Harris
  • 2018 – Dr. Allison Crowe
  • 2017 – Dr. Loni Crumb
  • 2016 – Jeff Warren
  • 2013 – Laura Gonzalez

Beginning Counselor Award

The Beginning Counselor Award has been established to recognize counselors who in their first two years of practice have shown unusual skill and promise of outstanding future accomplishments.

  • 2020 – Felix Morton IV
  • 2019 – Mecca Waller
  • 2018 – Sarah Mehta
  • 2016 – Camila Pulgar
  • 2015 – Brittany Bodwell
  • 2014 – Charla Suggs
  • 2013 – Michael Grabiec

Devoted Service Award

The Devoted Service Award recognizes a member who has provided leadership and service to NCCA and to the counseling field well beyond the typical involvement in voluntary leadership positions in a professional organization.

  • 2020 – Regina Gavin Williams
  • 2019 – Jonathan Ricks
  • 2018 – Angela Brooks-Livingston
  • 2017 – Sarah Moore
  • 2016 – Pattie Amundsen
  • 2015 – Chris Greene
  • 2014 – Angela McDonald

Special Citizen’s Merit Award

The Special Citizen’s Merit Award recognizes citizens, legislators, members of other professions or others who have made substantial contribution to the helping professions, or have shown exceptional leadership in endeavors, which significantly improve conditions for clients or citizens in North Carolina.

  • 2020 – Becky Hamby
  • 2019 – Andrew Freeman
  • 2018 – Sara Christenbury
  • 2017 – Christyn Grant
  • 2016 – Billy West
  • 2014 – Art Constantini

Don C. Locke Multicultural & Social Justice Award

Started in 2019, the Don C. Locke Multicultural & Social Justice Award honors the memory and legacy of Dr. Don C. Locke, Distinguished Professor Emeritus at NC State, by recognizing an active NCCA member who is a champion for diversity that has made significant contributions to enhancing multicultural and social justice within and beyond the counseling profession.

  • 2020 – Janee’ Avent Harris
  • 2019 – Jennifer Joyner
  • 2018 – Inaugural – Dr. Phyllis Post

Jane E. Myers Wellness Counseling Award

Started in 2019, the Jane E. Myers Wellness Counseling Award honors the memory of Dr. Myers, former Counselor Educator at UNCG and Executive Director of Chi Sigma Iota, by recognizing an NCCA member who has encouraged clients to increase their holistic wellness through counseling practice and/or research that incorporates an evidence-based wellness model.

  • 2020 – Shanita Brown
  • 2019 – Gigi Hamilton
  • 2018 – Inaugural – Dr. Stephen Kennedy

Most Improved Division

The Most Improved Division Award recognizes divisions that have worked to make their group more active. This activity might involve appointing officers, planning a conference or drive-in workshop, starting a newsletter, etc.

  • 2020 – NCACES
  • 2019 – NCGSA
  • 2018 – NCAARC
  • 2017 – NCASERVIC
  • 2016 – NCCCA
  • 2015 – NCAMCD
  • 2014 – NCCDA
  • 2013 – NCACES
  • 2012 – NCACES

Most Effective Membership Drive/Recruitment

The Most Effective Membership Drive/Recruitment Award recognizes divisions that have increased or maintained their membership through creative, effective membership recruitment plans (i.e. incentives, benefits, etc.).

  • 2020 – NCAMCD
  • 2019 – NCAADA
  • 2018 – NCGSA
  • 2017 – NCAMCD
  • 2016 – ACACNC
  • 2015 – NCAAC
  • 2014 – NCCDA

Rules for Nominations

  • Nominations must be made by members of NCCA.
  • Nominees must be members of NCCA. Exemptions to this requirement may be the Administrator of the Year and Special Citizen’s Merit Award.
  • Members may self-nominate.
  • Nominating information must include the completed nominating information form. Other materials you may submit include a cover letter by the nominator explaining in greater detail the reasons for the nomination, vita, news releases, additional letters and other supporting information.
  • The Awards Committee suggests that the nomination be kept confidential. Award winners will not be announced or notified before the conference, but nominators will be contacted so that they can encourage the winners to attend the conference.
  • Nominations for the Professional Writing and/or Research Award must be accompanied by a copy of the publication in which the materials appeared.

The NCCA Awards Committee reserves the right to withhold the presentation of an award, if in the committee’s judgment, appropriate nominations are not submitted.