ICA annually acknowledges the outstanding service and dedication of professional counselors across the spectrum of specialties in which counselors work. The awards are announced at ICA's Annual Conference, but you can nominate people at any time throughout the year.

ICA Award nominees must be ICA members. Nominees can be self-nominated or nominated by another ICA member in good standing. The award categories (described below) have been designed to recognize counselors who continue to be held in the highest regard by their peers and their community. Those special colleagues need your nomination to be considered for an ICA Award.

SUBMISSION DEADLINE

September 1, 2024

AWARD NOTIFICATION

September 15, 2024 

PRIZE

Complimentary registration for the 2024 ICA Conference and recognition during the event. Winners will receive further information at the time of award notification. 

ELIGIBILITY, RULES AND CRITERIA

• The awardee must be an ICA member and be either a counseling graduate student or a licensed counselor in the state of Indiana. 
• Self-nominations are welcome.
• Award recipients must have engaged in a concerted activity aimed at enhancing the counseling profession, serving professional counselors or graduate counseling students, serving in their communities to provide greater access, quality mental health care, or advocating on the behalf of the needs of professional counselors and client welfare. 
• Nominations must come from an ICA member in good standing. 

NOMINATION GUIDELINES

The total submission package for this award cannot exceed 10 pages in length. All nomination materials must be combined into one document, with the nomination letter first. 

Nomination letter: Submit a nomination letter of not more than two pages in length. In the letter, briefly describe the why the nominee deserves the selected award, including, but not limited to, any activities or accomplishments that qualify for this award and the effects that these had on the mental health professionals/counseling graduate students and their clients in Indiana. 

Keep in mind that the awards reviewers are relying on the information you provide to choose the most deserving recipient for the award. Please make sure your nominee meets the award description and any other indicated criteria. Also, in your nomination letter, identify a contact person.

Supporting material (Highly Suggested, but Not Required): Include a maximum of two letters in support of the nomination from others familiar with the contributions of the nominee. If there are additional materials (news reports, journal articles, etc.) that you feel help support the nominee’s achievements, please include a copy of them. Keep in mind that the total submission cannot exceed 10 pages in length.

Submit a 2024 Award Nomination Here

• Barbara Walters Cole Distinguished Counselor Award — This award is given in memory of Barbara Walters Cole, an ICA member who was a distinctive practitioner in the schools of Indiana.
  

• Distinguished Counselor Supervisor Award — This award is given to a counseling supervisor with evidence of contributions to the profession in the form of supervision and consultation.

• Distinguished Counselor Educator Award — The recipient of this award will be a counselor educator who has evidenced contributions to the growth of the profession, of innovative/creative practice in counselor education, involvement with student development and growth, scholarly activity, and national recognition.

• Recognition of Service Award — This award is awarded to persons or organizations with evidence of service or contribution to ICA or the profession that is worthy of recognition.

• Irene Cutter Distinguished Service Award — This award, presented in memory of the long-time Secretary of ICA, will be given to a professional counselor or administrator in recognition of outstanding service in a leadership position in the governance of ICA.

• Joe Hollis and Eldon Ruff Memorial Award— These awards are given to recognize graduate students in counselor training who exemplify the characteristics of a professional.

• Mental Health Counselor of the Year — This award goes to the Mental Health Counselor whose efforts on behalf of clients, or their advancement of the counseling profession, is deemed most exemplary.    

• Advocacy and Social Justice Award-- This award is presented to professional counselors or counseling graduate students who have contributed to the counseling profession through their work related to advocacy, social justice, and protecting client's rights. 

2023 Award Winners