December 17, 2015
K-Stater named Kansas School Counselor of the Year
A College of Education doctoral candidate in the department of special education, counseling and student affairs was named Outstanding School Counselor of the Year at the 66th Annual Counseling Conference in Emporia, Kansas.
The Kansas School Counselor Association, or KSCA, named Kristin Wright, school counselor at Lincoln Elementary School in Clay Center, as the 2015-2016 Outstanding School Counselor of the Year. Wright earned a master's degree in counseling from K-State in 2003 and is currently working toward her doctoral degree. As winner, she is the state nominee for the American School Counselor Association's 2017 National School Counselor of the Year award.
The other two finalists also were K-Staters: Tara Walrod, a school counselor at Sunrise Point Elementary in the Blue Valley School District completed a master's degree here; and William Skaggs III, a school counselor at Topeka High School, is a doctoral student.
Ken Hughey, professor and chair of the department of special education, counseling and student affairs, applauds the winner and finalists.
"Our faculty are very proud of Kristin, Tara, and Willie and their many contributions to the profession," Hughey said. "To have three professionals associated with our programs selected as finalists is not only a treat for us but also offers evidence of the depth of our programming and speaks to the caliber of people dedicated to this challenging and rewarding line of work. All three have contributed positively to school counseling in the state and their districts and represent our department, the College of Education, and Kansas State University very well."