COURTLAND C. LEE MULTICULTURAL EXCELLENCE SCHOLARSHIP AWARD

The Courtland C. Lee Multicultural Excellence Scholarship Award is presented to a graduate student in counselor education whose dedication and academic work demonstrate excellence in the theory and practice of multicultural counseling.

2023 Courtland C. Lee Multicultural Excellence Scholarship Award Recipient

Mónica Rodríguez Delgado 

Background and Purpose

Awarded by Courtland C. Lee, professor in the Counselor Education Program at the Washington, D.C., campus of The Chicago School of Professional Psychology, the award is given to help defray the cost of the awardee’s graduate education.

SUBMISSION DEADLINE

January 31, 2024 | 11:59pm ET 

AWARD NOTIFICATION 

February 26, 2024

JUDGES

ACA Awards Committee

PRIZE

• $2,500 honorarium
• Complimentary registration for the 2024 ACA Conference and Expo (April 11-13, 2024 | New Orleans, LA), and recognition during event. Winner will receive further information at the time of award notification. 

Sponsor: Courtland C. Lee funds the award with royalties donated from the sale of the book he edited, Multicultural Issues in Counseling: New Approaches to Diversity (Fourth Edition). Additionally supported and sponsored by The American Counseling Association Foundation.

Eligibility, Rules and Criteria

Students may submit nominations on their own behalf or may be nominated by a professor or colleague.  

Nominations will be evaluated on the basis of demonstrated academic excellence and commitment to the advancement of multiculturalism and diversity in the profession of counseling.

To be eligible, the nominee must:

• Be a student pursuing a graduate degree in counseling at any time during the period Jan. 1, 2023, to Dec. 31, 2023;
• Have compiled an outstanding academic record in his or her graduate studies, particularly in the area of multicultural counseling; and
• Have demonstrated through independent work a commitment to issues of multiculturalism and diversity in counseling (e.g., published or engaged in other scholarly activities related to issues of multiculturalism and diversity; developed innovative programs in the area of multiculturalism and diversity; demonstrated leadership in the areas of multiculturalism and diversity at the local, state, regional, national or international level; participated actively in community service and/or advocacy initiatives).
• Nominations must come from an ACA member.
• The awardee must be an ACA member.
• Self-nominations are accepted.
• An individual can only be nominated for one award per year.

Nomination Guidelines

The total submission package for this award cannot exceed 16 pages in length. All nomination materials must be combined into one document (all formats accepted), with the nomination letter first.

Nomination letter: In the letter, identify the nominee and the specific award. Explain why you believe the nominee should receive the award by responding to the specific criteria outlined in the nomination guidelines. Keep in mind that the awards reviewers are relying on the information you provide to choose the most deserving recipient for the award. Please address each nomination guideline and make sure your nominee meets the award criteria and requirements. Brevity, clarity and specificity are most important here.

In your nomination submission:

• Clearly indicate that the nominee is an enrolled candidate for a graduate degree in counseling at any time during the period Jan. 1, 2023, to Dec. 31, 2023.
• Include a one-page summary that provides documentation of the nominee's academic excellence, particularly in the areas of multiculturalism or diversity.
• Include a two-page summary of the nominee's independent work that demonstrates her or his commitment to issues of multiculturalism and diversity in counseling (e.g., published or engaged in other scholarly activities related to issues of multiculturalism and diversity; developed innovative programs; demonstrated leadership in this area at the local, state, regional, national or international level; participated actively in community service and/or advocacy initiatives.

Supporting materials: Include a nominee biography and a maximum of two letters in support of the nomination from others familiar with the nominee and her or his accomplishments. If there are additional materials (news reports, journal articles, etc.) that you feel help support the nominee’s achievements, please include a copy of them. You may also include a copy of the nominee’s curriculum vitae (CV) or resume of no more than four pages, highlighting the nominee’s relevant accomplishments, if available. Keep in mind that the total submission cannot exceed 16 pages in length.