TCA Awards and Volunteer Recognition

Purpose:

To recognize the significant contributions of an individual TCA member who has demonstrated over a long period of time a global vision and significant impact on the counseling profession on a national, regional and/or statewide basis.

Process:

1. Nominations may be made by any individual or organization and must be received by the ACOPP Chair no later than June 1 of each calendar year.
2. The Advisory Council of Past Presidents (ACOPP) reviews all nominations and makes selections for presentation of the special paperweight award at the general session of TCA's Annual Professional Growth Conference. 
3. Recipients receive emeritus membership in TCA.
4. Awards are given at the discretion of ACOPP and are not required to be presented annually.

The criteria for the award is as follows:

• The individual must be a TCA member for at least one full year preceding the nomination.
• The person must be a member of TCA, a local Chapter and a Division.
• A resume must be submitted along with examples of professional achievement and personal dedication.

An individual TCA member, a Chapter or Division may submit a nomination for the TCA Outstanding Counselor Award.

The criteria for the award is as follows:

• The individual must be a TCA member for at least one full year preceding the nomination.
• Entries should contain evidence of activities that focus on the nominee's contributions to human rights.
• Entries should contain documentation of or implications for change relative to an area of human rights.
• Entries should demonstrate that the individual has exhibited a pattern of continued activity in the area of human rights.
• Individual TCA members, Chapters or Divisions may submit nominations for this award.

An individual, TCA Chapter or Division may submit a nomination for this award.

Criteria is as follows:

• The individual must be a TCA member for at least one full year preceding the nomination.
• The individual must be a student pursuing a graduate degree in counseling at any time during the year preceding the nomination.
• The individual must have compiled an outstanding academic record in his or her graduate studies, in some significant area of counseling.
• The individual must have demonstrated through independent work a commitment to issues of counseling (e.g. published or engaged in scholarly activities related to issues of counseling, developed innovative programs, demonstrated leadership in counseling at the local, state, regional, national, or international level, participated actively in community service and/or advocacy initiatives).

Students may submit nominations on their own behalf or have their work submitted by a colleague or professor.

The criteria for this award is as follows:

• The individual must be a TCA member for at least one full year preceding the nomination.
• The nominee must be an individual or community counseling organization.
• Self-nominations are welcome.
• Award recipients must have engaged in a concerted activity aimed at achieving a specific legislative, regulatory, or organizational goal. Although actual legislative accomplishments are particularly worthy of recognition, a greater emphasis will be placed on the effective, collaborative, and productive efforts of the individual or organization.

Nomination may only be submitted by a member of TCA, its Divisions or Chapters.

The criteria for this award is as follows:

• The individual must be a TCA member for at least one full year preceding the nomination.
• Research materials must be submitted with the resume as part of the documented evidence.
• The nomination will be judged on the basis of how the research was accomplished and the benefits to counseling.
• The Research Award cannot be given to an individual in the following areas:
  • Doctoral dissertations
  • Masters papers

An individual, TCA Chapter or Division may submit a nomination for the Research Award. 

The criteria for this award is as follows:

• The individual must be a TCA member for at least one full year preceding the nomination.
• The written document must be submitted with the resume as a part of the documented evidence. The document must pertain to counseling and guidance activities.
• The Professional Writing Award cannot be given to an individual in the following areas:
  • Doctoral dissertations.
  • Masters papers.

An individual TCA member, a Chapter or a Division may submit a nomination for the Professional Writing Award.

The criteria for this award is as follows:

• Nominees must not be in the profession of guidance and counseling.
• Provide documented evidence of the individual's support and promotion of counseling and guidance.
• Submitting a resume is suggested, but not required.

An individual TCA member, Chapter or Division may submit a nomination for this award.

The criteria for this award is as follows:

• Documented evidence, no more than ten pages, such as communication, service to membership, research activities, promotional activities, and any other data that reflect the Chapter's accomplishment during the previous association year.
• Consideration will be given to Chapter newsletters based on originality and creativity, promotion of professional counseling and enhancement of Chapter activities. One copy of each issue of the newsletter should be submitted.
• Consideration will also be given to activities that focus attention on human rights issues, such as workshops, special projects, development of materials, or interactions with other groups or associations. Entries should contain documentation of or implications for change relative to an area of human rights. The entries should demonstrate that activities were an intentional act of the Chapter to address the topic of human rights.
• Consideration will be given to public relations products that positively promote the guidance and counseling profession to the public. The product can be, but is not limited to, the following: brochure, video tape, newspaper series, T-shirt, or billboard. The product must be a non-commercial item and must be sent to the committee. If it is impossible to send the product, an enlarged photograph will suffice. Entries should list specific markets/groups targeted by the public relations activity/product. Some public acknowledgment of the public relations effort should be included, such as letters from the community, newspaper articles, etc.
• In the area of membership, consideration will be given to the Chapter with the greatest annual percentage of growth in TCA membership during the fiscal year (July 1 - June 30). Creative and innovational promotional activities, projects, or strategies for encouraging membership in TCA and the Chapter will be taken into consideration as well as the Chapter's processes of recognizing new members and acknowledging current members sponsoring/promoting professional membership. Chapter strategies for inclusion of all kinds of counselors, for flexibility in accommodation for various meeting structures (e.g. time, date, location, needs assessments, survey results, etc.) and for communication in inviting and keeping TCA members should be listed. Upon receiving the award, the Chapter should be prepared to share information about their promotional projects and strategies. This information would be shared through Guidelines, information sent to Chapters by the Membership/Member Services Committee, and a display at the Membership/Members Services booth.

Individual Chapter members or groups of members may submit nominations.

The criteria for this award is as follows:

• Documented evidence, no more than ten pages, such as communication, service to membership, research activities, promotional activities, and any other data that reflect the Division's accomplishment during the previous association year.
• Consideration will be given to Division newsletters based on originality and creativity, promotion of professional counseling and enhancement of Division activities. One copy of each issue of the newsletter should be submitted.
• Consideration will also be given to activities that focus attention on human rights issues, such as workshops, special projects, development of materials, or interactions with other groups or associations. Entries should contain documentation of or implications for change relative to an area of human rights. The entries should demonstrate that activities were an intentional act of the Division to address the topic of human rights.
• Consideration will be given to public relations products that positively promote the guidance and counseling profession to the public. The product can be, but is not limited to, the following: brochure, video tape, newspaper series, T-shirt or billboard. The product must be non-commercial item and must be sent to the committee. If it is impossible to send the product, an enlarged photograph will suffice. Entries should list specific markets/groups targeted by the public relations activity/product. Some public acknowledgment of the public relations effort should be included, such as letters from the community, newspaper articles, etc.
• In the area of membership, consideration will be given to the Division with the greatest annual percentage of growth in TCA membership during the fiscal year (July 1 - June 30) Creative and innovational promotional activities, projects, or strategies for encouraging membership in TCA and the Division will be taken into consideration as well as the Division's processes of recognizing new members and acknowledging current members sponsoring/promoting professional membership. Division strategies for inclusion of all kinds of counselors, for flexibility in accommodation for various meeting structures (e.g. time, date, location, needs assessments, survey results, etc.) And for communication in inviting and keeping TCA members should be listed. Upon receiving the award, the Division should be prepared to share information about their promotional projects and strategies. This information would be shared through Guidelines, information sent to Divisions by the Membership/Member Services Committee, and a display at the Membership/Member Services booth

Individual Division members or groups of members may submit nominations.