Ronald L. Smith Career Achievement Award 2026

This Award will be presented at our Annual Conference on Nov. 12, 2026 at the Turning Stone Resort & Convention Center.

The NYSSCA Ronald L. Smith Career Achievement Award recognizes an elementary, middle/junior high, secondary, or multilevel (P-12) school counselor, director/supervisor of school counseling, or counselor educator for outstanding service, achievement, and dedication to the counseling profession. Nominations can be made by the nominee or a colleague of the nominee. The award will be presented at the NYSSCA Annual Conference.

To be eligible, the nominee must:

(1) be a current member of NYSSCA;

(2) be currently employed or a recent retiree as a full-time school counselor, director/supervisor of counseling, or counselor educator;

(3) have completed a minimum of 20 years of counseling service (may be a combination of elementary, middle/junior high, secondary, multilevel (P-12) school counselor, director/supervisor of counseling, or counselor educator);

(4) hold a minimum of a master’s degree or equivalent in school counseling, and;

(5) be certified as a counselor in New York State.

Recognition Criteria include activities and accomplishments that have taken place over the span of the nominee’s career including:

1. The nominee maintains the highest standards of professional conduct and recognizes that his or her personal conduct is held up to public scrutiny. The nominee strives to be a model citizen of the local, school and broader professional communities. The nominee maintains strong ethical standards in his or her personal and professional conduct.

2. The nominee demonstrates awareness and knowledge of the New York State K-12 School Counseling Regulations and has been responsible for school counseling innovations or development of programs aligning with these regulations and the ASCA Comprehensive Model to support the career, personal/social and academic development of all students.

3. The nominee demonstrates leadership, advocacy and collaboration in his/her work promoting equity and access to rigorous educational opportunities for all students to maximize student achievement.

4. The nominee demonstrates strong collaboration with stakeholders.

Deadline for submissions is October 9, 2026.

Recipients will be notified by October 30, 2026

If you have questions, please email questions to Awards Committee Chair at awards@nyssca.org

Nominee

First Name

Last Name

E-mail

Phone Number-include area code

Nominee Address

Institution (School) Name

Street Address (If Work: School or Business Address)

Address Line 2

City

State

Zip Code

Nominee Position Title

Nominee Work Setting

County of School

Nominator's Name

First Name

Last Name

E-mail Address

Phone Number Including Area Code

Relationship to Nominee

Nominator's Address

Institution (School) Name

Street Address (If Work: School or Business Address)

Address Line 2

City

State

Zip Code

Nominator's Position Title

Nominator's Work Setting

The nominee maintains the highest standards of professional conduct and recognizes that his or her personal conduct is held up to public scrutiny. The nominee strives to be a model citizen of the local, school and broader professional communities. The nominee maintains strong ethical standards in his or her personal and professional conduct.

0/300

The nominee demonstrates awareness and knowledge of the New York State K-12 School Counseling Regulations and has been responsible for school counseling innovations or development of programs aligning with these regulations and the ASCA Comprehensive Model to support the career, personal/social and academic development of all students.

0/300

The nominee demonstrates leadership, advocacy and collaboration in his/her work promoting equity and access to rigorous educational opportunities for all students to maximize student achievement.

0/300

The nominee demonstrates strong collaboration with stakeholders.

0/300

Attachment Letter of Recommendation 1(No More Than 3)

Select File

Attachment Letter of Recommendation 2

Select File

Attachment Letter of Recommendation 3

Select File

Attachment for Additional Supporting Documents (no more than 5 pages)

Select File

Name of Your Local Newspaper

Name of Your Superintendent or Supervisor

Thanks very much for your Ronald L. Smith Career Achievement Award Application. For more information and registration instructions for the NYSSCA Conference, please visit www.NYSSCA.org