USCA Awards - Nominations are open for 2026-27.
Annual Awards
NOMINATIONS ARE NOW CLOSED:
As you reflect on this school year, take a moment and think about the counselors you work with or know. Do you know an amazing school counselor or counseling program? Take 5 minutes to nominate them for a USCA award. USCA has moved the nomination process to April to allow nominees sufficient time to fill in the information for their nomination. USCA will recognize our winners in front of their counseling peers at the USCA Conference in November.
USCA is looking for nominations for Counselor of the Year, Rookie of the Year and Program of the Year for the 2026-27 school year. Thanks for taking time to nominate an exemplary counselor.
After filling in information about you and your nominee such as name, email and phone number, there is only ONE question to answer!
Questions or problems, email chandra.walker@utahschoolcounselor.org
DESCRIPTIONS OF THE USCA Annual Awards
School Counselor of the Year
The School Counselor of the Year Award (5+ years experience) honors the best counselors who run a top-notch, comprehensive school counseling program at the elementary, middle, or high school level. They are working to provide the best outcomes for their students, are leaders in their counseling centers, and are positive influences in their schools.
Rookie School Counselor of the Year
The Rookie School Counselor of the Year Award honors the best of our new counselors (1 - 4 years of experience) at either the elementary, middle, or high school level. These rookie counselors bring new ideas, new enthusiasm, and change for the better in their counseling departments, while still learning from other counselors' experiences.
School Counseling Program of the Year
Our best school counselors work to provide great counseling programs.. This award is designed to recognize those stand out programs who lead the way in comprehensive school counseling programs at either the elementary, middle, or high school level.
Nominees will be emailed questions to answer about themselves or their program as they are the best source when it comes to collecting data about why they deserve the award.
2025-2026 Award Winners
Congratulations to the 2025-26 Award Winners and Honorable Mention recipients. They are great examples of the excellence demonstrated by all counselors in Utah.
Counselor of the Year
David Parker - Mountain Creek Middle School
Rookie of the Year
Nicki Stoker - South Davis Jr. High
Program of the Year
Park City High School
Counselors: Heather Briley, Pepper Elliot, Kristen Hall, Shannon Hase, Liz Moskal, Dara Smith
2025-2026 Counselor of the Year Honorable Mention
Anya May - Brockbank Jr High
Becky Austad-Layne - NUAMES Davis
Becky Huff - Washington Elementary School
Jacci Strain - Municipal Elementary
Josh Flores - Mountain Creek Middle School
Mónica D. Candía de Garcia - Granger High School
Sammi Borders - Salt Lake City School District
Sara Strickland - City Academy Charter School
2025-26 Rookie of the Year Honorable Mention
Amy Morris - Mountain Creek Middle School
Andrea Sline - Ensign Elementary
Chelsie Davis - Granite Connection High
Iveth Vazquez - Mount Ogden Junior High
Lindsey Harris - Sage Creek Elementary
Mara Sorensen - North Star Academy
McKinnah Judd - Bennion Jr High
Natalie Hadley - Mountain View Junior High
Victoria Saley - Hillside Middle School
2025-26 Program of the Year
Copper Hills High School: Amber Horrocks, Shalisa Evans, Theresa Benner, Sharon Felt, Charlie Green, Javan Hatch, Kris Strong, Sydney Sandez, Zachary Wheatly
Fort Herriman Middle School: Alyson Law, Jared Bills, Jeni Viernes, Chris Montague
Mountain Creek Middle School: Wendy Checketts, Josh Flores, Alishia Huefner, Amy Morris, David Parker
Olympus High School: Kate Egger, Michelle Glaittli, Christine Martinez, Alicia Money, Craig Sudbury, Cheyenne Terry