The S. Kent Butler Transformative Impact Award represents an annual opportunity to recognize those American Counseling Association members serving as professional counselors who have worked tirelessly to effect change through their efforts to promote equity, inclusion, and access. The impact achieved by awardees is demonstrated by their advocacy of social justice issues and how their communities have been transformed to better serve clients and students.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE
Established in 2022, the S. Kent Butler Transformative Impact Award represents an annual opportunity to recognize those American Counseling Association members serving as professional counselors who have worked tirelessly to effect change through their efforts to promote equity, inclusion, and access. The impact achieved by awardees is demonstrated by their advocacy of social justice issues and how their communities have been transformed to better serve clients and students.

The awardees will have demonstrated concern and commitment through any of the following:

Professional roles they perform;

  • Advocacy that supports diversity, inclusion, equity, and access for a community;
  • Research and communication in support of social justice matters; and,
  • Extent to which their actions can, or are, included in the pre-service and in-service training of present and future members of the counseling profession

DEADLINE FOR RECEIPT OF CANDIDATE INFORMATION
Monday, November 3, 2025, 11:59pm ET

AWARD NOTIFICATION
Week of January 12, 2026

JUDGES
ACA Awards Committee

PRIZE

  • $500 honorarium
  • In addition to the professional and public recognition that will be bestowed on the award winner, the recipient will receive a cash award of $500 from the ACA Foundation to advance their service commitments and/or continue their personal studies and professional development. In addition, the award recipient will receive complimentary registration for the 2026 ACA Conference and Expo (April 9-11, 2026, Columbus, Ohio) and recognition during the event. Winners will receive further information at the time of award notification.

Sponsor: The American Counseling Association Foundation.

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ELIGIBILITY, RULES AND CRITERIA

  • Nominations must come from an ACA member. Counseling program managers/supervisors and counselor educators, who are familiar with the work of counseling practitioners are especially encouraged to submit nominations
  • Nominees must hold membership in ACA, and be fully licensed and credentialed by their jurisdiction of employment and certified by relevant counseling specialty focused programs
  • Individuals must be nominated by an ACA member other than themselves

NOMINATION GUIDELINES

The total submission package for this award must include the following:

  • Principal nominator should submit a maximum 500-word profile of the nominee that describes in detail how that individual exemplifies the ideals embodied in the S. Kent Butler Transformative Impact Award.
  • Solicit and attach to the profile three testimonies not to exceed 300 words each from the nominee’s professors, managers/supervisors, colleagues and others. The testimonies will illustrate the nominees’ commitment and actions in the areas of diversity, equity, inclusion, and access that resulted in community change. Two of these testimonies must be made by active ACA members.
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