Dissertation Excellence Awards
The Professional Counselor (TPC) confers the annual Dissertation Excellence Awards to recognize original research that significantly contributes to the counseling profession. In 2022, TPC expanded the award to include two winners, one each in qualitative or quantitative research. Beginning in 2024, TPC will offer a third award in mixed methods research; this category will be offered every other year and will depend upon volume of submissions. The awards committee evaluates entries based on the presentation and clarity of ideas, sound methodology and interpretation of findings, innovative quality, and contribution to the counseling profession. Applicants must be current graduate counseling students in good standing or recent graduates of a university or college accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP). Applicants must also hold the certification of National Certified Counselor (NCC). Both of these requirements must be met and will not be waived.
Dissertations eligible for the 2025 Dissertation Excellence Award must have been successfully completed between April 2023 and January 2025 and must not have been published or submitted for potential publication. Please note that inclusion in the ProQuest database is not a publication and does not disqualify a dissertation from competition for this award. Applications will be opened on Jan. 3, 2025, and are due by March 3, 2025. The winners of the award will have an opportunity to publish an article based on their dissertation in TPC, will receive an honorarium, and will be announced in NBCC Visions, the official newsletter of NBCC, as well as on NBCC’s social media. In addition, winners may be invited to take part in one or more future NBCC events.
Outstanding Scholar Awards
The Outstanding Scholar Award was created to recognize the most noteworthy article published in The Professional Counselor (TPC) each year. In 2013, TPC expanded the award to include two Outstanding Scholar Awards, one in each of two categories: quantitative or qualitative research and concept/theory. The winners are selected each year from the articles published in that year’s volume. The editorial board committee examines the articles published each year and selects winners based on the following criteria: scholarly style, innovative and inventive material, and relevance to the counseling profession. Authors do not need to apply for consideration. The winner of each award will receive a certificate of recognition and an honorarium. Winners will be announced in NBCC Visions, the official newsletter of NBCC, and on the NBCC Facebook page.
Quantitative or Qualitative Research
2022 – Brown, Carlisle, Burgess, Clark, and Hutcheon
2021 – Shen, Liu, and Brat
2020 – Sitton, Du Rocher Schudlich, Byrne, Ochrach, and Erwin
2019 – Litam
2018 – Kalkbrenner and Sink
2017 – Burns and Cruikshanks
2016 – Brown-Rice and Furr
2015 – McClain and Reardon
2014 – Hawley, Leibert, and Lane
2013 – Warren and Gerler, Jr.
Single Award
Concept / Theory
2022 – Kalkbrenner
2021 – Harris-Pierre, Belser, Wheeler, and Dennison
2020 – Burkholder, Burkholder, Hall, and Porter
2019 – Rogers, Crockett, and Suess
2018 – Rogers, Gilbride, and Dew
2017 – Miller and Cook
2016 – Karaman and Ricard
2015 – Hayden, Williams, Canto, and Finklea
2014 – Lee, Dewell, and Holmes
2013 – Brown-Rice