08/07/2025

PCA Call for Awards, Sponsors/Exhibitors, and Emerging Leaders

The PCA Conference Committee is pleased to announce open calls for:

• Nominations for 2025 PCA Awards 
• Conference Sponsors and Exhibitors
• The New PCA Emerging Leaders Program

Consider Nominating Yourself or a Colleague! 

This is the call for nominations to honor the hard work, commitment, and dedication of Pennsylvania counselors, students, and programs. Please consider nominating a colleague, program, or graduate student for an award. The award categories are listed below. Winners will be announced during the 2025 PCA Conference November 6-9, 2025, in Bethlehem, PA. Nominations are now being accepted through 9/7/25! 

Award nominations will go through this form: https://forms.gle/ZNor7xyiU33Cngt38 

Additional information about the nomination process and requirements can be found here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1LXvQZEf4Tu-ceMF3ydo4OG3s-mZVPOZTCVzWHYVkQF8/edit?usp=sharing

1. PCA Outstanding Practitioner Award – Awarded to an outstanding professional counselor for service to the profession; nominees do NOT need to be PCA members.
2. PCA Lifetime Achievement Award – Awarded to a PCA member who is a State of Pennsylvania resident and who has demonstrated outstanding dedication, service, and/or achievement in professional counseling.
3. PCA Outstanding Counselor Education Program Award – Awarded to an outstanding professional counseling program in the State of Pennsylvania.
4. PCA Outstanding Graduate Student Award – Awarded to an individual who is currently a graduate student in professional counseling within the State of Pennsylvania and who shows excellent potential and professionalism; this individual shall be a PCA student member and shall have had some involvement with the association.
5. PCA Outstanding Research/Publication Award – Awarded to a PCA member who has contributed to the professional counseling profession through outstanding effort in the area of research and/or publication.
6. PCA Outstanding Supervisor Award – Awarded to a PCA member who has demonstrated outstanding work as a supervisor in a university, community/mental health counseling, or school setting.
7. PCA Outstanding Professional Teaching Award – Awarded to a PCA member to honor excellence in teaching in a counseling, counselor education, or counseling supervision program in the State of Pennsylvania.
8. David W. Hall Advocacy Award – Awarded to an individual who has promoted the profession of counseling through advocacy to whom the many professional counselors in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania are forever grateful.

Call for Sponsors and Exhibitors:

PCA is seeking conference sponsors and interested exhibitors for the 2025 PCA Conference in Bethlehem PA! A variety of opportunities are available to have a table in our exhibit space, sponsor portions of the conference, or both! 

2025 Exhibitor and Sponsor Application

2025 Sponsor and Exhibitor Tiers

New for this year are Sponsorships for both networking events that include a time to discuss your organization at the event. 

Please reach out to pca.programs@gmail.com with questions or for additional information. 

Call for Emerging Leader Applications:

The PCA Leadership Taskforce in partnership with the Conference Committee is excited to announce the premier of an Emerging Leader program that will support the association through leadership development of new leaders, establishing a steppingstone approach to becoming a leader within the brand. An Emerging Leader is an individual who is on a journey to enhance their leadership skills and their engagement within an organization. 

The program plans to provide members with leadership training that includes an experiential project that supports the values of PCA and the connected divisions/regions. Participants will be paired with a current or past PCA leader for mentorship over the scope of the program, or 1 year. Participants will also work formally and informally with current PCA leadership on projects and training. 

PCA is now accepting applications for the first cohort of Emerging Leaders (click here).

What to Expect: 

• Initial Leadership Training (@ PCA’s annual conference, 11/6-11/9 2025). 
  • The emerging leader opening event is schedule for 11/6 from 1-4PM at the conference hotel 
• Presentation & celebration of achievement (@ PCA’s annual conference, 2026).
• Participants will receive a reduced rate for both conferences.
• Monthly Activities that can include training or mentorship meetings
• Complete a project over the course of 1 year, connected to PCA either directly or through one of the regions or divisions. 

Successful applicants would:

• Be current PCA members, regardless of status
  • Non-members are welcome to apply, and if accepted into the cohort are required to join. 
• Have an interest in building or enhancing their leadership skills
• Have a desire to support PCA within a leadership capacity
• Have an interest in impacting the profession

Questions about the emerging leaders' program should be directed to Ryan Gruber (grubercounseling@gmail.com) AND Joe Charette (pca57.president@gmail.com).