Californians Recognized for Commitment to Student Academic Success
(Alexandria, VA) – Six Californians were recognized by the National Association for College Admission Counseling (NACAC) for their leadership in supporting student academic success and school counseling in California public schools. The individuals, listed below, played key roles in securing the passage of California Assembly Bill 1802, which provided $200 million to hire school counselors and alleviate the highest student-to-counselor ratio in the nation.
“The efforts of these Californians cannot be overstated,” stated Jon Westover, chair of NACAC’s Government Relations Committee, the committee responsible for the group’s nomination. “AB 1802 sends a clear signal in support of school counseling as a key component of student success in California. As such, the federal government should take notice that a single state has provided a greater infusion of support for school counseling in one year than Congress has for the entire nation.”
The list of awardees includes:
Kavin Buck, Western Association College Admission Counseling President-Elect, Director of Enrollment Management and Outreach, UCLA School of Arts and Architecture
Elsa Clark, WACAC President, Director of College Counseling at Immaculate Heart High School in Los Angeles
Esther Hugo, NACAC Board member, Outreach Coordinator, Santa Monica College
Esther Lopez, WACAC/NACAC Government Relations Committee member, Head College Counselor, Justin-Siena High School in Napa
Rafael Magallan, Director of State Services, The College Board, Sacramento, CA
Marc Meredith, WACAC Past President, Dean of Admission, Otis College of Art and Design in Los Angeles
Katy Murphy, WACAC Past President and College Counselor at Bellarmine College Preparatory, San Jose, CA
Loretta Whitson, Executive Director, California Association of School Counselors (CASC)