SDSCA Awards
Nominate the best of the best for an SDSCA Award!
Awards nominations are closed for the 2023-2024 school year.
Thank you to all who nominated someone for an award!
Our Awards Committee will review nominations and make their selections after our nomination window has closed. You will be notified of our decision regarding your nomination by April 1st.
Awards will be presented at the South Dakota School Counseling Association Banquet on April 26th at the South Dakota Counseling Association Conference in Spearfish.
If you have any questions, please email sdsca.awards@gmail.com
Awards Descriptions, Nomination Forms, and Former Recipients
2024 Recipient
Jeff Caldwell
Orv Schmieding Award
The purpose of this award is to recognize outstanding service to the area of school counseling over an extended period of time. This is the top award determined by the SDSCA Awards Committee. Consider these points:
Length of time as a school counselor.
Contributions to SDSCA
Professional contributions
Civic and local contribution
Orv Schmieding Award Past Recipients
2024 Jeff Caldwell
2023 Sue Bubbers
2022 Carrie Reinders
2021 Patti Lake-Torbert
2020 Cathy Kazmerak Nelson
2019 Ronald Swier
2018 Valerie Horacek
2017 Bobbi Brown
2016 Kurt Turbak
2015 Jill Stephenson
2014 Dwayne LaFave
2013 Donna Doss
2012 Barb Ohleen
2011 Patsy Butler-Gratzfeld
2010 None Given
2009 Sue Anderson
2008 Diana Mach
2007 Gary Johnson
2006 Gloria Schulz
2005 Kelly Duncan
2004 Marcia Price
2003Char Nickolas
2002 None Given
2001 None Given
2000 None Given
1999 Suzan Nolan
1998 Erna Taylor
1997 Tom May
1996 Mavis Booze
1995 Don Van Cleave
1994 None Given
1993 Doug Hoisington
1992 Bill Smith
1991 None Given
1990 LeAnn Suhn
1989 John McIntyre
1988 None Given
1987 Vivian Gering
1986 Donald Kennedy
1985 Deb Langrehr
1984 Al Lindstrom
2024 Recipient
Amanda Bender
Outstanding Professional School Counselor
Click Here for the Outstanding Professional School Counselor Award Nomination Form
This award is in recognition of a school counselor who:
Has made outstanding contributions to their school, the counseling profession, or the community served
Has excellent rapport with pupils, parents, and school personnel
Is a highly respected counselor of students
Is a current member of SDSCA with a Masters degree and is certified by the State of SD
Has worked as a school counselor during the past year
Is working towards the development or maintenance of a comprehensive school counseling program
Outstanding Professional School Counselor Past Recipients
2024 Amanda Bender
2023 Andrea Junker
2022 Jeff Heavlin
2021 Nicole Weron
2020 Randi Hartman
2019 Betsy Atwood
2018 Ashley Seeklander
2017 Kim Goebel
2016 Shannon Knuppe
2015 Jackie Pew
2014 Sheila Anderson
2013 Marcia Aiken
2012 Patti Lake-Torbert
2011 Jill Stephenson
2010 Marla Bjerke
2009 Elementary Antonia Humphrey
2009 Secondary Leann Suhn
2009 Middle Bruce Hansum
2009 Multi-level Sadie Hanson
2008 Elementary Kathy Miller
2008 Secondary Kurt Turbak
2008 Middle Connie Kolbrek
2008 Multi-level Linda Witt
2007 Elementary Valerie Horacek
2007 Middle Susan Olson
2007 Secondary Dorothy Kiyukan
2007 Multi-level Jill Stephenson
2006 Elementary Mary Tucker
2006 Middle Jean Larson
2006 Secondary Jodi Sternhagen
2006 Multi-level Don Ball
2005 Elementary Cheryl Knudson
2005 Secondary Karen Amundson
2005 Middle Andrée Johnson
2004 Elementary Jean Blonigen
2004 Middle John Hegg
2004 Secondary Dana Sanderson
2003 Elementary Char Nickolas
2003 Middle Dianne Brenden
2003 Secondary Barb Ohleen
2003 Multi-level Jeff Gunn
2002 Elementary Carla Claymore
2002 Secondary Kim Nikolas-Goebel
2001 Elementary Lynn Adler
2001 Middle Andrea Meyer
2001 Secondary Nancy Kennedy
2001 Multi-level Diana Mach
2000 Elementary June Tuff
2000 Secondary Laura Lloyd-Smith
2000 Multi-level Beth Duerre
1999 Elementary Cathy LeDuc
1999 Middle Sandy Rupiper
1999 Secondary Clark Richardson
1999 Multi-level Colleen Campbell
1998 Tom May
1997 Bonnie Haines and Marcia West
1996 Kathy Askew
1995 Randy Christensen
1994 Andrea Meyer
1993 Allan Olson
1992 Cheri Johnke
1991 Teri Determan
1990 Doug Hoisington
1989 None Given
1988 Belva Anderson
1987 Mavis Booze
1986 Jean Lakner
1985 LeAnn Suhn
2024 Recipient
Logan Amundson
Rising Star Award
This award is in recognition of a school counselor who:
Is a newcomer to the profession, who has entered the field within the last five years
Is a model for new counselors demonstrating highest standards of professional competence
Has made outstanding contributions to the school community and/or profession
Has demonstrated excellent rapport with students, parents and school personnel
Is a current member of SDSCA with a Masters degree and is certified by the State of SD
Rising Star Award Past Recipients
2024 Logan Amundson
2023 Kelsi Buckmiller
2022 Chelsea Molden
2021 Kari Lena-Helling
2020 Jacee Johnson
2019 Morgan Robey
2018 Stephanie Mach
2017 Kristen Konechne
2016 Kara Spieler
2015 Dustin Pickrel
2014 Tammy Nold
2013 Jacob McDonald
2012 Becca Dravland
2011 Brady Sumners
2010 Tobin Bakkedahl & Rebecca Christiansen
2023 Recipient
Elizabeth McPherson
Special Contributions Award
Click Here for the Special Contributions Award Nomination Form
This award is given in recognition of a person or organization who has:
Made a contribution of unusual significance that substantially affects the school counseling profession, or
Made a contribution that directly affects counselors; students; or a school program, and
Is not eligible for any of the other awards.
Special Contributions Award Past Recipients
2024 Elizabeth McPherson
2023 Carlene Barber
2022 Angela Wendt
2021 Rep. Erin Healy
2020 Jennifer Powell
2019 Megan Tatum
2018 Marion Blue Arm
2017 Andrea Diehm
2016 Wendy Smith
2015 Martha Miller
2014 Julie Poeppel
2013 Tom Cool
2012 Mark Wilson
2011 Rep. Jacqueline Sly
2010 None Given
2009 Carla Claymore
2008 Dorothy Kiyukan
2007 Marge Mathers
2006 Damon Alvey
2005 Wade Pogany
2004 Diane Thaler
2003 Barb Becker-Meyers
2002 Donna Kegler
2001 None Given
2000 Tom Daschle
1999 Linda Johnson
1998 Deb Petrick
1997 None Given
1996 Bud and Dee Carson
1995 None Given
1994 SD Army National Guard
1993 Tom May
1992 Ron Bethke
1991 Virginia Tobin
1990 Tracy Pirtle
1989 Don Van Cleave
2024 Recipient
Brian Relf
Administrator Advocacy Award
Click Here for the Administrator Advocacy Award Nomination Form
This award is given in recognition of a school administrator who:
Is a supervisor of school counselors on a building or district-wide level
Supports the development, implementation, and continuation of a comprehensive school counseling program
Demonstrates an understanding of a comprehensive school counseling program as a resource to all families
Works collaboratively with school counselors to provide support and insight regarding all student needs and welfare
Sees the school counselor as a valuable resource and helps advocate on behalf of the school counselor and comprehensive school counseling program
May or may not be a member of SDSCA
Administrator Advocacy Award Past Recipients
2024 Brian Relf
2023 Marlys Walkling
2022 Dan Fischer
2021 Larry Larsen
2020 Kim Aman
2019 Kevin Mutchelknaus
2018 Cella Hermsen