The nomination letter should specify clearly the award for which the person is being nominated and indicate reasons why the individual is deserving of the award. Additional support material and letters of recommendation from WACES members may be included. The nomination letter must include a statement disclosing no current conflicts of interest. Current students and supervisees of the nominee cannot write the nomination letter. All nominees must be current WACES members.
The award categories are below:
a) WACES Professional Service Award shall honor outstanding service to WACES and/or to the cause of counselor education and supervision that is of regional and national importance to the profession.
(b) WACES Professional Leadership Award shall honor excellence in leadership of an officer, committee person, or other leader or major contributor to the WACES professional association at a national, regional, or state level.
(c) WACES Research Award shall honor significant research in counseling, counselor education, and/or counselor supervision.
(d) WACES Publication Award shall honor a significant published work related to counseling, counselor education, and/or counselor supervision.
(e) WACES Outstanding Mentor Award shall honor an individual who has been a significant mentor to graduate students, emerging professionals, educators, and/or supervisors.
(f) WACES Innovative Counselor Education Program Award shall honor an outstanding, innovative, or unique counselor education program in the western region.
(g) WACES Outstanding Graduate Student Award shall honor a student who has provided outstanding leadership and/or service to the profession or to WACES. Involvement may have been state, regional, and/or national, and must be directly relevant to the advancement of the profession or WACES.
(h) WACES Special Recognition Award shall honor individuals (WACES members and nonmembers) who have promoted and supported the counseling profession.