Each year, the American Counseling Association (ACA) recognizes and rewards member excellence through an awards program, celebrating professional achievements at each stage of a counseling career.
The ACA Graduate Student Awards of Excellence recognize the counselors of tomorrow as they prepare for careers in the field of professional counseling. The awards offer scholarship opportunities for groups and individuals.
Oakland University Graduate Students Meredith Cairo, Emily Clark, Zak Drobek, and George Googasian were recently awarded first-place for the 2023 Graduate Student Ethics Awards for Master's Degree Students. Through the guidance of Faculty Advisor Dr. Ashley Branson, the team of students was challenged to write an essay addressing an ethical dilemma prompted by the ACA.
“I am impressed by this passionate team of students and their dedication to becoming ethical and competent future counseling professionals,” said Branson. “These students went above and beyond in their efforts, and all of the credit goes to them. It’s refreshing to see the student’s intentionally consider multiple perspectives when applying an ethical framework to a complex situation. Their self reflection, critical analysis, and collaborative decision making speak to their strong potential as upcoming professionals.”
The group’s essay, “The Complexities of Managing Mandated Client Disclosure in Other Professional Relationships” not only earned first-place, but also earned each group member a $100 honorarium and a certificate of recognition as well as complimentary registration for the 2023 ACA Conference and Expo. The team will also receive recognition during the event.
For additional information on the American Counseling Association, visit counseling.org
March 09, 2023