September 17, 2009

MEDIA CONTACTS:
Jane Bornhorst
202-994-4519; janeb@gwu.edu
Nick Massella 
202-994-3087; massella@gwu.edu

GW'S SCHOOL COUNSELING MASTER'S DEGREE PROGRAM HONORED BY CAREER DEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATION

WASHINGTON - GW's school counseling master's degree program has been honored with the Association for Career and Technical Education's (ACTE) Friend of Guidance Award. This prestigious award is given annually to an organization or institution that has made significant contributions to the advancement of career guidance across the nation. The school counseling master's degree program is offered by GW's Graduate School of Education and Human Development and is dedicated to the preparation of students to become knowledgeable and ethical counseling professionals for employment as school counselors in public and private schools and related educational settings for diverse populations.

"The program has shown visionary leadership through the establishment of a quality counselor training program, the sponsorship of collaborative legislative initiatives and by students' commitment to research and development for improvement of the field," said Judy Whitaker, chair of the awards committee and past president of the Guidance Division of ACTE, which gives out the award.

The award will be given at the annual ACTE Convention on Nov. 19, 2009, at the ACTE Guidance and Career Development Division Luncheon in Nashville. Accepting the award will be distinguished faculty members, Pat Schwallie-Giddis, chair of GW's counseling and human and organizational studies department, and Rebecca Dedmond, GW assistant professor of counseling.

"Dr. Dedmond, director of the Alexandria school counseling program, and I are honored to accept this award," said Dr. Schwallie-Giddis. "We are strong advocates for a comprehensive school counseling program that has much emphasis on career counseling as an integral part of the curriculum and experiential learning."

Dr. Sam Steen, GW assistant professor of counseling, is the lead faculty member for the school counseling program at the University's Foggy Bottom campus.

Former recipients of this award include the U.S. Army Recruiting Command, Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery Career Exploration Program and America's Career Resource Network.

GW's school counseling program endorses an integrated approach to school counseling with other school services. The program contributes to human development, adjustment and change by encouraging its diverse faculty and student body to engage in reflective practice, innovative inquiry and responsible social action. The program is accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs, which is the nationally recognized agency for the accreditation of graduate programs in counseling.

GW's Graduate School of Education and Human Development, ranked among the top 35 graduate schools of education nationwide by U.S. News & World Report, offers graduate certificate, master's, education specialist and doctoral degree programs that prepare students for a variety of leadership roles in diverse education and human services settings in public and private sectors.

For more information about GW?s Graduate School of Education and Human Development, visit http://www.gsehd.gwu.edu.

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