Announcing the Winners of the ACA Awards for Achievement and Excellence in Professional Counseling

Newswise — Columbus, Ohio (April 6, 2026) — Every year the American Counseling Association (ACA) recognizes excellence in research, career and humanitarian achievement among counseling professionals and students with its awards and honors program. This year’s awards will be presented at the 2026 ACA Conference & Expo in Columbus, Ohio from April 9–11. Meet our 2026 award winners:

ACA Fellows Award
Kevin S. Doyle, EdD, LPC

ACA State Branch Advocacy Award
Lauren Shure, PhD, LMHC

Best Practices in Research Award for Faculty
Jack D. Simons, PhD

Best Practices in Research Award for Students
Xihe Tian, MS, NCC

Counselor Educator Advocacy Award
Simone F. Lambert, PhD, LPC

Extended Research Award
Gülşah Kemer, PhD, LPC, NCC

Research Award
Emily Goodman-Scott, PhD, LPC, NCC
Kaprea F. Johnson, PhD, NCC, LPC
Darrell J. Sampson, EdD, MA, LPC

Arthur A. Hitchcock Distinguished Professional Service Award
Carl J. Sheperis, PhD, NCC, CCMHC

Courtland C. Lee Multicultural Excellence Scholarship Award
Babatola Samuel Arogundade, MA

David K. Brooks Jr. Distinguished Mentor Award
Brandee Appling, PHD, LPC, CPCS

Don Dinkmeyer Social Interest Award
Jon Sperry, PhD, LMHC, NCC

Dr. Judy Lewis Counselors for Social Justice Award
Amanda C. DeDiego, PhD, LPC, ART

Garry R. Walz Trailblazer Award
Russell Fulmer, PhD

Gilbert and Kathleen Wrenn Award for a Humanitarian and Caring Person
Chanel S. Rodriguez, PhD, NCC

Glen E. Hubele National Graduate Student Award
Emily Kitching, MEd, NCC

STUDENT ESSAY AWARDS

Future School Counselors Essay Competition
This competition recognizes graduate counseling students with exceptional insight and understanding about the school counseling profession. The theme for this year’s competition was “How can school counselors help students address personal/social issues that are impacting their success in school? What do you believe is the most pressing issue, and how will they be able to demonstrate and document their effectiveness?”

Grand Prize
Eungyeong Jun, MA, University of Florida

First Prize
Wendelyn Nguyen, MEd, Virginia Commonwealth University

Second Prize
Megan Kenline, Midwestern State University

Honorable Mention
Hanghang Li, The Ohio State University
David Schnabel, MEd, Bellevue University

Graduate Student Ethics Competition
This award recognizes master’s and doctoral counseling students who demonstrate exceptional understanding of the ACA Code of Ethics.

First Place, Doctoral
Lindsey Wilson University
Mahalia Suzanne Cain, MEd, LPCA, NCC
Amanda Gienow, MEd, A-LPC/MHSP
Lynnsey K. Vandeventer, MEd, LPCC-S, NCC
Sibo Zhao, MAEd, LPCA
Laura Bailey Smith, EdD, LPCA, NCC, Adviser

Second Place, Doctoral
University of the Cumberlands
Shamika N. Alford, LPC, CPCS, NCC
Daniel Helvetius Jr., MEd, LPC-S, NCC
Linda Marcel-Rene, LPC, NCC, CCTP
Miriam W. Mburu, LCPC, NCC, BC-TMH
Colleen M. Grunhaus, PhD, LCMHC, Adviser

Third Place, Doctoral
Old Dominion University
Mashal Bilal, MA, MS, NCC
Ajaya Sabre Evins, MS, NCC, CRC
Chimdiogo Onyeani-Nwosu, MA
Chukwuebuka Frank Onyia, MEd
Edward Neukrug, EdD, LPC, LP, Adviser

First Place, Master’s
University of Nevada Las Vegas
Silvey Benson, BA
Natalie (Hui Ching) Chan, MS, MBA
Maria Soriano, MEd, SHRM-CP
Madison K. Voss, BA
Ching-Chen Chen, EdD, NCC, Adviser

Second Place, Master’s
University of Pennsylvania
Evan Jones
Sunny Nguyen An La, BS
Stephanie Stevenson, BA
Anisha Vanka, BS
Diana L. Wildermuth, PhD, LPC, NCC, Adviser

Third Place, Master’s
Marshall University
Jill Minor, EdD
Kasey M. Mix, BA
Hanna M. Morris, BA
Anna L. Reed
Brittni M. Scott, BS
Eric T. Beeson, PhD, LPC, Adviser

Richard Yep Award
Eric C. Dafoe, PhD, NCC

Robert H. Rencken Emerging Professional Leader Award
Brittany G. Suggs, PhD, MPH, LPC

S. Kent Butler Transformative Impact Award
Renae D. Mayes, PhD, NCC

Samuel T. Gladding Unsung Heroes Award
Tobi Y. Russell, PhD, LPC, CAADC

Thelma T. Daley Advocacy and Equity Award
Norma L. Day-Vines, PhD

Tomorrow’s Counselors Essay Competition
This award recognizes graduate counseling students with exceptional insight and understanding about the counseling profession. The theme for this year’s competition was “Artificial intelligence (AI) is increasingly prominent and expanding. What are the strengths and limitations of using AI when counseling clients, and what are the relevant practice, ethical and legal implications of its use in counseling?”

Grand Prize
Courtney Weinrich, Hazelden Graduate School

First Prize
Neal D. From, MA, University of the Cumberlands

Second Prize
Zhi Jie Lee, MEd, The Ohio State University

Honorable Mention
Abigal K. Glaum, NCC, Johns Hopkins University
Renee Murphy, BA, Antioch University

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About the American Counseling Association

Founded in 1952, the American Counseling Association (ACA) is a not-for-profit, professional and educational organization that is dedicated to the growth and enhancement of the counseling profession. ACA represents more than 62,000 members and is the world’s largest association exclusively representing professional counselors in various practice settings. Driven by the belief that all people can benefit from the power of counseling, ACA’s mission is to promote the professional development of counselors, advocate for counselors, and ensure that ethical, culturally inclusive practices protect our members’ clients and all people who seek counseling services. For more information, visit the ACA website and follow them on Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram, Threads, BlueSky and YouTube.