SACES 2024 Awards Nominations

Please send nomination packets and any inquiries about nominations or the 2024 SACES awards to the awards committee at awards@saces.org. Nomination packets are due by 11:59 PM on September 1, 2024.

SACES Individual Achievement Awards

Outstanding Teaching Award

The SACES Outstanding Teaching Award is intended to acknowledge individual educators for teaching that rises above and beyond regular teaching expectations, and involves a sustained performance of excellence in at least two different course preparations. The nominee’s teaching should reach beyond the educator’s personal realm or classroom. Examples of reaching beyond their own classroom could include presenting or publishing about teaching, authoring or contributing to texts, or collaboration in instructional development with faculty and graduate students, increasing communication and collaboration within the university and/or local communities.

Nomination packet:

1. Letter of nomination (maximum 4 pages): The letter should come from one or two students whom the nominee has taught within the past five years, and can also include quotes from other students and colleagues. The letter should include specifics wherever possible, and reflect both courses for which the educator is being nominated. Please focus the letter on a variety of ways in which teaching can be considered excellent. Examples could include (in no particular order of importance, and a nominee need not have all these qualities): development of an innovative pedagogical approach or teaching style; ability to motivate students; promotion of a diverse range of ideas and of a climate that supports and respects the open expression of opinions and questions; responsiveness to the needs of a diverse student body and clientele; intentionality and effectiveness in using course design that reflects best practices; and/or any additional evidence of the nominee’s remarkable achievements in teaching. If the teaching load and class size might impact an evaluation of the nominee, please include any pertinent information.
2. A statement of teaching philosophy (2 pages maximum) authored by the nominee. (Many faculty members have this for their portfolio, so could be obtained without the person knowing that it is for a nomination if you want it to be a surprise.)
3. Nominee’s curriculum vitae. Nominator: please edit the vita to a (maximum) 3 page document that highlights the teaching involvement of the nominee, and title it EDITED VITA. Submit both the full vita and the edited vita.
4. The nominee developed syllabus for one of the Counselor Education courses identified as exemplary in the nomination letters.

Please prepare the packet in one PDF file for submission, and place the items in the order listed here. Send completed packet to the Awards Committee Co-Chairs at awards@saces.org. Please indicate “SACES Teaching Nomination” in subject line.

Locke-Paisley Outstanding Mentoring Award

The Locke-Paisley Outstanding Mentoring award is to acknowledge individual educators from the SACES region whose mentorship impacts students and colleagues in extensive ways. Such efforts often go unnoticed – but not unappreciated. The award is based on the experiences and successes of the nominee’s mentees, not the mentor’s personal career achievements. As such, the nomination should focus on the positive influence the mentor has had on a series of students and/or colleagues as they are developing their careers. For the purpose of this award, mentoring is defined as the process of guiding, supporting, and promoting the education and career development of others.

Nomination package:

1. Letter of nomination (maximum 4 pages). The letter should be authored by one mentee of the nominee, with inclusion of direct quotes from other mentees encouraged. The nominator should be actively involved in research, teaching, mentoring, or other leadership activities as an example of the mentor’s impact. Include specifics wherever possible and summarize the nominee's impact on the education / careers of the mentees. Comments from other mentees should provide additional first-hand account of the nominee’s influence. Academic, clinical, and educational achievements on the part of the mentee will all be considered important. Please focus on a variety of ways in which the nominee’s mentoring can be considered excellent. Examples could include (in no particular order of importance, and a nominee need not have all these qualities): professional guidance; role-modeling; a list of the mentor’s graduates and what they have accomplished in their professional development; development of talents (research skills, teaching ability, presentations, writing, preparation of grant and fellowship applications, etc.); appropriately nurturing and supporting mentees from underrepresented groups; nurturing self sufficiency and encouraging feedback; maintaining and communicating the highest ethical standards.
2. Student nominees: Letter (2 pages maximum) from one colleague or department chair that may be able to include mentoring achievements that have spanned many years, beyond the experience of the nominating mentee OR Colleague nominees: Letter (2 pages maximum) from one student who has been mentored by the nominee.
3. The nominee's curriculum vitae. Nominator: please edit the vita to a (maximum) three page document that highlights the mentoring involvement of the nominee, and title it EDITED VITA. Submit both the full vita and the edited vita.

Please prepare the packet in one PDF file for submission, and place the items in the order listed here. Send completed packet to the Awards Committee Co-Chairs at awards@saces.org. Please indicate “SACES Mentoring nomination” in subject line.

L. DiAnne Borders Clinical Supervision Award

Named for an innovative and renowned clinical supervision and supervision scholar, the L. DiAnne Borders Clinical Supervision Award honors a counseling supervisor or a supervision researcher who exemplifies excellence, innovation, and impact in clinical supervision.  The award is designed to acknowledge individuals, through supervision practice or supervision research, who demonstrate efforts toward

• extending and strengthening counseling services to recipients,
• establishing standards for service delivery systems, 
• improving the quality of services delivered, 
• developing and implementing in-service programs which improve counselor skills and knowledge, and/or
• developing and implementing assessment and evaluation of counselor competence and program implementation.

Candidates for this award may include counselor educators or supervision practitioners who merit recognition as a clinical supervisor or supervision researcher. If the nomination is for supervision research, the nomination also should include samples of the research. In describing the nominee’s achievements, attention should be given to: 

·       Innovation in clinical supervision or supervision research
·       Leadership in the advancement of supervision knowledge, delivery, techniques, practice, assessment, and theory
·       Impact of the nominee’s work in clinical supervision
·       Scholarly involvement in organizations, presentations, and leadership

The nomination package:

1.     Nomination letter (4 pages maximum): The letter should describe the successful process and results of the nominee’s supervision in the areas described above. The nominator should include specific examples as much as possible, and is encouraged to include direct quotes from other students and professionals.
2.     Nominee’s curriculum vita.
3.     Two letters of recommendation from either supervisees or practitioners who can attest to the impact of the candidate’s work.
4.     A philosophy of supervision which encompasses the candidate’s philosophical and theoretical assumptions about supervision. 

Please prepare the packet in one PDF file for submission, and place the items in the order listed here. Send completed packet to the Awards Committee Co-Chairs at awards@saces.org. Please indicate “SACES Clinical Supervision nomination” in subject line.

Outstanding Tenured Counselor Educator Award

The SACES Outstanding Tenured Counselor Educator award is to acknowledge individual educators who have established an ongoing, career commitment to Counselor Education in the role of a faculty member. The nominee should be exemplary in all areas of academic responsibilities: research, service and teaching. Expectations vary by university, but a career commitment would be indicated by exceeding university requirements. The nominee should have a consistent, productive record of publications and professional presentations; a record of substantive involvement and leadership in professional service; and a steady reputation for positive teaching evaluations and beneficial advising.

The nomination packet:

1. Letter of nomination (maximum 4 pages). Nominator should highlight the areas of excellence achieved by the nominee throughout the nominee’s career.
2. Nominee’s curriculum vita
3. Letter of support (maximum 2 pages) authored by a current colleague (can be the same author as the letter of nomination) and signed by all of the current faculty members in the nominee’s program indicating support for an exemplary performance award.

Please prepare the packet in one PDF file for submission, and place the items in the order listed here. Send completed packet to the Awards Committee Co-Chairs at awards@saces.org. Please indicate “SACES Tenured nomination” in subject line.

Outstanding Pre-Tenure Counselor Educator Award

The SACES Outstanding Pre-tenure Counselor Educator award is to acknowledge individual faculty members who are showing exceptional progress in the early stages of their academic career. The award is based on activities in all areas of an academic position: research, teaching, and service. The nominee must have a productive track record of research and publications and a developed research agenda that promises to develop our knowledge of counseling. The nominee should also be actively involved in service to the counseling profession, preferably with leadership positions. Because SACES has a separate Teaching award, the evaluation of teaching is not as critical in this award, but the nominee should also show a solid performance of teaching counseling / human services courses.

Nomination package:

1. Letter of nomination (maximum 4 pages). Nominator should highlight the areas of excellence achieved by the nominee, focusing on the years that the nominee has been in a tenure-track position, and including other aspects of background as appropriate.
2. Nominee’s curriculum vita
3. Letter of support (maximum 2 pages) from senior colleague, preferably the program coordinator or department chair indicating support for an exemplary performance award.

Please prepare the packet in one PDF file for submission, and place the items in the order listed here. Send completed packet to the Awards Committee Co-Chairs at awards@saces.org. Please indicate “SACES Pre-Tenure nomination” in subject line.

Outstanding Graduate Student - Doctoral Level Award

The SACES Outstanding Graduate student at the Doctoral level award is to acknowledge doctoral students who exceed the already typically high demands of doctoral work. The nominee must be involved in scholarship beyond the dissertation, and exceed in other expectations as well. Additional areas of excellence can include teaching, supervision, clinical work, service, leadership and advocacy. The nominee must be registered as a doctoral student (not graduated) at the time they are nominated for this award.

The nomination package:

1. Nomination letter (4 pages maximum): The letter should include information about the exemplary performance of the doctoral student, and include specifics and examples whenever possible. To describe the involvement in scholarship, please include information about the role the nominee served if a research team is involved. Examples of other areas of excellence could include (in no particular order of importance, and a nominee need not have all these qualities): showing initiative in program development; creating innovative teaching strategies; developing supervision strategies involving challenging developmental issues; providing leadership both within the program and in the professional arena; advocating for and providing support for disadvantaged students / clients.
2. Nominee’s curriculum vita
3. IF the nominator is not the student’s major advisor or dissertation chair, include a letter (2 pages maximum) authored by the advisor / chair indicating support for an exemplary performance award.

Please prepare the packet in one PDF file for submission, and place the items in the order listed here. Send completed packet to the Awards Committee Co-Chairs at awards@saces.org. Please indicate “SACES Doctoral Student nomination” in subject line.

Outstanding Graduate Student - Master's Level Award

The SACES Outstanding Graduate student at the Master’s level award is to acknowledge master’s students who exceed the demands of the master’s program. The nominee should show exceptional promise for a productive career in counseling through early evidence of ability and commitment to serving clients and developing a professional identity. The nominee must be registered as a Master's student (not graduated) at the time they are nominated for this award.

The nomination package:

1. Nomination letter (4 pages maximum): The letter should include information about the exemplary performance of the master’s student, and include specifics and examples whenever possible. Include appropriate information about course performance, but the focus should be on the activities that the student has participated in beyond the classroom. Examples of other areas of excellence could include (in no particular order of importance, and a nominee need not have all these qualities): showing initiative in program outreach efforts; creating innovative strategies for involving and integrating students in the community; seeking or creating opportunities to be involved in research; providing leadership both within the program and in the professional arena; advocating for and providing support for disadvantaged students / clients.
2. Nominee’s curriculum vita
3. IF the nominator is not the student’s major advisor, include a letter (2 pages maximum) authored by the advisor indicating support for an exemplary performance award.

Please prepare the packet in one PDF file for submission, and place the items in the order listed here. Send completed packet to the Awards Committee Co-Chairs at awards@saces.org. Please indicate “SACES Master’s Student nomination” in subject line.

Courtland Lee Social Justice Award

The Courtland Lee Social Justice Award acknowledges a SACES member who has made significant contributions to enhancing social justice within and beyond the counseling profession. Professionals nominated are engaged in activities specific to social justice in legislation, advocacy, teaching, research, or service.

The nomination package:

1. Nomination letter (maximum 4 pages): The letter should include a description of the nominee’s engagement in social justice activities and the impact of these activities on the profession and/or society.
2. 2 letters of support
3. Nominee’s curriculum vitae

Please prepare the packet in one PDF file for submission, and place the items in the order listed here. Send completed packet to the Awards Committee Co-Chairs at awards@saces.org. Please indicate “SACES Cortland Lee nomination” in subject line.

Outstanding Program Awards

Outstanding Doctoral Counselor Education and Supervision Program

The Outstanding Doctoral Counselor Education Program is designed to acknowledge programs that educate Doctoral level students. Programs nominated for this award should demonstrate outstanding pre- service and in-service training  in areas such as counseling, supervision, teaching, research and scholarship, and leadership and advocacy.

The nomination package:

1. Nomination letter (maximum 4 pages): The letter should highlight the distinctive practices within the program that make it an outstanding program, including at least two of the areas listed above.
2. Links (maximum 6) to important supportive web-site pages that provide information about the program.
3. Additional material (maximum 10 pages) that highlight the accomplishments or uniqueness of the program and the doctoral students.

Please prepare the packet in one PDF file for submission, and place the items in the order listed here. Send completed packet to the Awards Committee Co-Chairs at awards@saces.org. Please indicate “SACES Doctoral Program nomination” in subject line.

Outstanding Master's Counselor Education Program

The Outstanding Master’s Counselor Education Program is designed to acknowledge programs that educate Master’s level students. Programs nominated for this award should demonstrate outstanding pre- service and in-service training in core and specialty areas.

The nomination package:

1. Nomination letter (maximum 4 pages): The letter should highlight the distinctive practices within the program that make it an outstanding program, including at least two of the areas listed above.
2. Links (maximum 6) to important supportive web-site pages that provide information about the program.
3. Additional material (maximum 10 pages) that highlight the accomplishments or uniqueness of the program and the master’s students.

Please prepare the packet in one PDF file for submission, and place the items in the order listed here. Send completed packet to the Awards Committee Co-Chairs at awards@saces.org. Please indicate “SACES Master’s Program nomination” in subject line.

SACES Outstanding State Award

The Outstanding State SACES Award is designed to acknowledge state divisions of ACES within the SACES region that demonstrate a substantial increase in membership within the last year, evidence of exemplary service to members (i.e. newsletters, conferences, workshops), and/or exceptional advocacy efforts within their state.

The nomination package:

1. Nomination letter (maximum 4 pages): The letter should highlight the distinctive practices and programs within the state association that make it outstanding.
2. One page indicating the membership numbers for at least two years.
3. Additional material (maximum of 10 pages) that exemplify service to members either directly, through advocacy, or through collaborations with other associations.

Please prepare the packet in one PDF file for submission, and place the items in the order listed here. Send completed packet to the Awards Committee Co-Chairs at awards@saces.org. Please indicate “SACES State nomination” in subject line.

Awards Selection

The SACES Executive Council members are not involved in the nominations or selection of award recipients, with the exclusion of the Presidential Service Award. All packets will be evaluated by the Awards Committee which is comprised of SACES members (e.g., students and professional members).

Award recipients and award nominators will be notified in advance so that arrangements can be made for both to be present at the SACES Awards Ceremony held during the biannual SACES or ACES conventions. All award presentations will occur at this time. The SACES Awards Committee will send the date and location for this event to all recipients via email. For further information, please direct your questions to the SACES Awards Committee Co-Chairs at awards@saces.org.

The Awards Committee is not required to grant an award if there are insufficient nominees for the award's category or if the committee does not deem any nomination worthy of an award.