2023 Professional Recognition Recipients

  • Missouri’s State School Counselor of the Year & Secondary School Counselor of the Year: Rachel Reeves Hagelin, Belton High School, Belton School District, Belton, Missouri

  • Elementary School Counselor of the Year: Laura Buchheit, Perryville Primary School, Perry County School District, Perryville, Missouri

  • Middle School Counselor of the Year: Maria Stokes, Blair Oaks Middle School, Blair Oaks R-II School District, Jefferson City, Missouri

  • Advocate of the Year: Polly Mateson, Truman State University, Kirksville, Missouri

  • Administrator of the Year: Nick Pettit, Maplewood Elementary School, North Kansas City School District, Kansas City, Missouri

  • NRM Schools: Glendale High School, Springfield Public Schools; Hawthorn Hill Elementary, Lee’s Summit R-7 School District; Kentucky Trail Elementary, Belton School District; Lawson High School, Lawson R-XIV School District; Midway Heights Elementary, Columbia Public Schools

2022 Professional Recognition Recipients

  • Missouri’s State School Counselor of the Year & Secondary School Counselor of the Year: Melissa Millington, Aurora High School, Aurora R-VIII School District, Aurora, Missouri

  • Elementary School Counselor of the Year: Karri Amelunke, Southern Boone Primary School, Southern Boone School District, Ashland, Missouri

  • Multilevel School Counselor of the Year: Lauren Jones, Madison C-3 School District, Madison, Missouri

  • Advocate of the Year: Billie Hartgrove, DeSoto Public Schools, De Soto, Missouri

  • Administrator of the Year: Dr. Precious Kurth, Liberty North High School, Liberty Public Schools, Liberty, Missouri

  • Legislators of the Year: Representative Ingrid Burnett & Representative Patricia Pike

  • NRM Schools: John Thomas School of Discovery, Nixa Public Schools; Hawthorn Elementary School, Park Hill School District; Blair Oaks Middle School, Blair Oaks School District; Bloomsdale Elementary School, Ste. Genevieve School District

2021 Professional Recognition Recipients

  • Missouri’s State School Counselor of the Year & Secondary School Counselor of the Year: Brenda Wiederholt, Liberty High School, Liberty Public Schools, Liberty, Missouri

  • Advocate of the Year: Jennifer Lane, Ferguson-Florissant School District, St. Louis, Missouri

  • Administrator of the Year: Monica Palmer, Polo R-VII School District, Polo, Missouri

  • NRM Schools: Adrian Elementary School, Adrian R-III School District; Congress Middle School, Park Hill School District; Platte County High School, Platte County R-3 School District; and Walden Middle School, Park Hill School District

2020 Professional Recognition Recipients

  • Missouri’s State School Counselor of the Year & Middle School Counselor of the Year: Matthew Berry, Ritenour Middle School, Ritenour School District, St. Louis, Missouri

  • Elementary School Counselor of the Year: Julie Peterman, Col. John B. Wyman Elementary School, Rolla School District, Rolla, Missouri

  • Secondary School Counselor of the Year: Nate Zier, Herndon Career Center, Raytown School District, Raytown, Missouri

  • Coordinator of the Year: Elizabeth “Betsy” Jones, Columbia Public Schools, Columbia, Missouri

  • Advocate of the Year: Jazell Thomas, Hazelwood School District, Hazelwood, Missouri

  • Administrator of the Year: Dr. Cheryl Reichert, Herndon Career Center, Raytown School District, Raytown, Missouri

  • Ed Ailor Memorial Award: Dr. Marci Dowdy, Springfield, Missouri

  • NRM Schools: Mesiner Primary School, Affton School District & Mason Elementary School, Lee's Summit School District

2019 Professional Recognition Recipients

  • Missouri’s State School Counselor of the Year & Elementary School Counselor of the Year: Olivia Carter, Jefferson Elementary School, Cape Girardeau Public Schools, Cape Girardeau, Missouri

  • Middle School Counselor of the Year: Hilari McLaughlin, Maple Park Middle School, North Kansas City School District, Kansas City, Missouri

  • Secondary School Counselor of the Year: Tammy Braun, Timberland High School, Wentzville School District, Wentzville, Missouri

  • Coordinator of the Year: Kim Hill, St. Joseph School District, St. Joseph, Missouri

  • Advocate of the Year: Amy Barrett, Raytown School District, Raytown, Missouri

  • Administrator of the Year: Josh Groves, Glendale High School, Springfield School District, Springfield, Missouri

  • NRM Schools: Park Hill South High School, Park Hill School District & Indian Trails Elementary, Fort Osage School District