Southern
Scope
Spring/Summer 2009
From the President
In this Issue
From the President
From NACAC
Board of Directors Nominee
NACAC Knowledge Center
SACAC News
Feedback from SACAC Annual
Conference
Changes to the Board of Directors
Annual Awards
Changes in Membership Rates
Conference 2010
Personal Perspectives
University of St. Andrews –
Counselors Perspective
Confessions of a Selective “Cause
Junkie”
Rookie of the Year?
Calendar of Events
SACAC Picture Collage
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2
3
4
5
7
9
10
Jean Jordan, SACAC President
“Why We Do This”
Dear Friends,
And the Oscar goes to… all of those who helped make
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this year’s conference such a success! Given the current
economy, we were all pleased to have such a large group
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of attendees who registered with the help of Claudia
Goldbach and Jessie McCullough. Great job, ladies!
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Special thanks go to Susan McCarter for continuing to
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work her magic to put the conference together each year.
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Myron Burney and Stacy Lightfoot-you guys did an
amazing job highlighting all the hidden talent in our
association at the conference social this year! Thanks to all of our conference committee chairs-Lindsey
Waite, Jeff Bennett, Kim Stodghill, Jared Rosenberg, Angela Connor, Nadine Askins, Anne Shandley,
Joanne Letendre, Buck Rodgers, Sherry Brouillette, Jennifer Thibodeaux, Allene Niemiec, Joyce Mai,
Katy Pacelli, Vern Granger, and Anthony Clay- we could not do it without you! I encourage anyone who
is interested in getting involved in next year’s conference to contact Bill Dingledine, SACAC PresidentElect. Conference presentation proposals will be available on the SACAC website later this summer. The
variety of sessions and the wonderful presenters we had this year will be tough to top! Thanks to all of
you!
I am indebted to our two speakers, Dr. Bernie Dunlap, president of Wofford College and Dr. Joseph
Soares, professor at Wake Forest University both of whom provided new insights into our thinking about
higher education. Their speeches challenged us to think differently about the long held norms of higher
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education and how these new ways of thinking might impact our lives and the lives of the students we
serve.
The needs of our students are greater today than in years past and we must work more diligently than ever
to assist them in any way we can, even as we as individuals and as institutions are facing increased
challenges. Now more than ever, we need to work together as an association to support our students and
ourselves. I hope that you will reach out and offer your time and talents to SACAC and that you will also
call upon your colleagues in the association to assist you as you work to achieve your goals.
Have a wonderful summer!
All the bestJean Jordan
SACAC President
News from NACAC
Congratulations, Phyllis Gill!
Phyllis Gill, Providence Day School, is nominated for the NACAC Board of Directors. She is among six
other candidates nominated for two positions on the Board. We are excited to support our former
SACAC President!
In the most recent NACAC Bulletin, each nominee was asked to respond to the following question:
"Explain how your background, training, experience and/or personal qualities support your candidacy for
the position you seek on the Board of Directors."
There have been unimaginable changes in education and college admission since I started teaching 40 years ago
and became a college counselor 21 years ago. What never changes, though, is the chance each student deserves for
educational opportunities beyond high school.
Thirty years in the classroom taught me about leadership. Charlotte's South Mecklenburg High was larger and more
diverse than my high school and college. In 1981 Providence Day was a small, independent, college preparatory
school that has since doubled its size and increased its diversity. Despite these differences, students came to each
school seeking teachers who cared more about nurturing minds than imparting facts, who were authentic and
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willing to adapt as needed, and who set and adhered to high standards. Similarly, students I work with as a college
counselor at Providence Day and a volunteer counselor with community based organizations also have much in
common as they seek advocates in the transition to college. I’ve learned from all these young people what leaders
should be.
As a SACAC volunteer, board member, and president, I've also learned from colleagues on both sides of the desk
as we’ve worked to make our large S&R more pro-active and inclusive. We created the Counselor Participation
Fund for professional development grants and expanded Camp College and Drive-in Workshops to bring resources
to more students and counselors. Overseeing conference planning, budget reviews, the development of a new
strategic plan, by-laws revisions, and nominating procedures made me keenly aware of the need to keep our S&R
dynamic, fiscally secure and responsive to our members' needs. As a SACAC leader willing to take on challenges,
I’ve sought consensus but made difficult decisions, tempered tenacity with humor and reached out to new and
experienced members. Leadership is an on-going educational process, and no one can lead effectively in isolation
or without the ability to follow when necessary.
With NACAC, I've been fortunate to participate in LDI and legislative conference, present sessions, and serve as an
Assembly Delegate. Fellow counselors and admission officers involved in these programs may not always agree
philosophically on the issues, but they all agree on the focal point of the organization: helping students in the
transition to college. Collaborating on the creation of Guiding the Way to Higher Education: Step-by-Step to
College Guide, I saw this dedication at work at every level: board members, staff, co-authors, volunteer
contributors, and advisory committee members.
The current economic climate, creative ways to deliver NACAC’s professional development opportunities to
counselors and students, changes in technology, legislative initiatives, outreach to S&R’s, and more collaboration
among educational organizations are some of the challenges NACAC will continue to face. While there is more
work to be done and more changes ahead, our focus must always be on the students in the college admission
process. What an honor it would be to serve on the Board of Directors where dedicated, visionary, yet practical
leaders can continue to be the voice for these students.
NACAC Knowledge Center:
“The NACAC Knowledge Center is provided as a forum for sharing tools and resources for the college admission
counseling profession. Inclusion of models, samples, products or services in the Knowledge Center does not
imply endorsement by NACAC.
If you have models or samples you would like to share with the Knowledge Center, please submit them to
KnowledgeCenter@nacacnet.org.”
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News from SACAC
Annual Conference 2009: Trying New Angles
Over 600 people attended the 2009 SACAC Annual Conference in Raleigh, North Carolina on April 1821. Immediately following the conference, many attendees shared their impressions:
I was inspired and energized after the SACAC conference in Raleigh. The venue was perfect, and the sessions were
informative. I wish I could have attended many more sessions - they were filled with expertise and collegiality.
The college tours were well organized and enlightening. The only thing missing was more time! Mary Ellen
Piscatello, Director of College Counseling, Grandview Preparatory School, Boca Raton, FL
As a first-timer to the SACAC conference, I was very impressed with the presentations given; they were relevant,
interactive, and provided excellent take-aways. The conference was just the right length and provided several
opportunities for my colleague and me to network with other professionals in the same field. Overall, this was the
best conference I had ever been to and by far the greatest use of my time. Shanae Stukes, College Counseling,
KIPP Gaston College Preparatory, Gaston, NC
I came to Raleigh straight from an admitted student reception in Atlanta. Once I arrived, my suitcase was delayed,
and so was my rental car. It didn't look as if I was going to have a good experience at the 2009 Trying New Angles
SACAC conference. I am so glad I was wrong! After a great night's sleep, my luggage arrived, I attended the
session, "Don't Tell Me About the Blue Light System." The presenters did a great job of telling me what NOT to
include in a college counselor tour, and how to tailor the experience for my audience. Now I will be much better
prepared when the Sweet Tea tour comes to visit Georgia Tech this summer. I really enjoyed lunch as well. Not
only was I amazingly surprised to be chosen as this year's "Rising Star" awardee, but hearing Dr. Joseph Soares
discuss the SAT, and the race and class biases of the test was even more motivation for me to continue my work
with college access programs like Camp College. The Human Relations committee can always use additional
volunteers to assist us in organizing more mini camp college programs, as well as helping with existing mini camp
colleges around the region.
Myron Burney and his committee did an excellent job on the social this year. It is always fun to see everyone all
"dolled up" and what a great idea to have each state arrive together to take pictures! The SACAC Oscars were
entertaining and so much fun to watch, but seeing the Eletric Slide, the Cupid Shuffle and the Stanky Leg was the
highlight of the evening!
On Tuesday, it was a pleasure to hear from the President of NACAC, Bill McClintick. I am hopeful that I will be
able to attend this year's conference in Baltimore. Though we are all experiencing cuts and difficult fiscal times, it
was reassuring to know that SACAC has always made a good showing at the national conference. After breakfast, I
had the chance to present with Jessie McCullough from Elon about effectively recruiting, training and retaining
your student volunteers- both paid and unpaid. It was a great opportunity to hear what others are doing in their
offices, and even though I was presenting, I left with some great ideas to enhance my own student volunteer
initiatives. When the conference was over, it was sad to have to say good bye to so many friends and new faces. I
look forward to attending the SACAC conference every year, and every year, it just keeps getting better. Leslie
Jackson, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA
My experience at SACAC was priceless! As a first time attendee, I was inspired by the sharing of ideas,
enthusiasm, and sense of community at the conference. As a public school counselor I wear a million different hats
and juggle an array of responsibilities. Unfortunately, I don't get the opportunity to spend as much time with
students during their college search and application process as I would like to. Time just doesn't permit. The
conference provided me with great information that I will be sharing with my colleagues at CHHS about ways that
we can better support students during that critical time in their high school careers. I will be back! Rasheedra
Nelson, M. Ed., School Counselor, Collins Hill High School, Suwanee, GA
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I throughly enjoyed the SACAC conference and particularly enjoyed the following workshops:Hotspots, Hooks and
Hidden Agendas - Part I & II, STEM Counseling, One-Stop College Admission Counseling - Running Your Own
Counseling Office and Behind the Scenes Look at the College Admissions Process. Thank you to EVERYONE for
such a wonderful conference! Monique Harris, Duke University, Durham, NC
The keynote speaker at the conference on Sunday was probably the best "generic" conference speaker I have ever
heard, so engaging with great stories, references, humor. It seemed that most everyone was raptly attentive,
actively almost hanging on to his words and stories. What a great choice and how fortunate Wofford is to have such
a leader. The session that was incredibly valuable for me was that of Janet Schneider and Cristin Viebranz from the
University School in Nashville. It illustrated the importance of our thinking about our counseling roles and tasks in
line with adolescent developmental components. So much wisdom and wonderful insights shared. Many thanks.
Jackie B. Upton, Director of College Guidance, Greensboro Day School, Greensboro, NC
Changes to the Board of Directors
Our sincerest thanks to Ann Hendrick, Kay Holleman, Becki Rutsky, and Nancy McGlasson for their
service on the Board of Directors. We are excited to welcome new board members:
Lee Ann Afton, Associate Vice President for Enrollment, Agnes Scott College, Dacatur, GA
Lee Ann completed her undergraduate degree at the University of Tennessee at Knoxville and her
graduate work at Vanderbilt University. She then worked in admissions at Sewanee – University of the
South for twenty years. Following her work at Sewanee, she served as the Director of College
Counseling at Porter-Gaud School in Charleston, SC for three years. She has been at Agnes Scott College
for the past five years – four as director and now Associate VP for Enrollment and Dean of Admission.
Lee Ann also served as Past President of SACAC and is the current Co-Chair of AP Committee and a
delegate. In her spare time she helps run a fitness boot camp with Jean Jordan, called Kick in the Fit!
Debbie Carrington, Senior Counselor, Murrah High School, Jackson, MS
Debbie has been in the field of education for over thirty five years with the last twenty six as a counselor.
Her experience as a counselor has run the gamut. She was a vocational counselor at the MS School for the
Deaf for two years where learning sign language was one of her greatest hurdles; a vocational counselor
with the MS Department of Corrections for four years where she became immersed in a culture totally
foreign to anything she had ever known but ultimately one of the most educational/eye opening
experiences of her life in regard to understanding human nature. For the past eighteen years she has been
a guidance counselor with the Jackson Public School District in Jackson, MS, at Wm B. Murrah High
School. The last six years she has been the 12th grade counselor/college counselor.
Scott G. Chrysler, Jr., Academic Dean and College Counselor, Episcopal School of Acadiana, Cade,
Louisiana. Scott grew up on the north shore of Long Island. He is a graduate of Friends Academy,
Locust Valley, NY and Middlebury College with a degree in British Literature and also conducted
advanced studies at the Bread Loaf School of English. Scott worked in independent schools for 22 years
starting at the Storm King School in Cornwall-on-Hudson, NY and moving to the Episcopal School of
Acadiana in Cade, Louisiana 12 years ago. Throughout his career, he has served in a variety of positions
including English teacher, admission officer, head varsity lacrosse coach, yearbook advisor, Dean of
Students, department chair, dormitory master, chapel co-coordinator, Academic Dean, and college
counselor. Scott has been married to Janetta Chrysler for 17 years and has three sons – Scott III, age 11
and twins, Addison and Landon, age 9. Watch out for Scott’s skills on the athletic field; he played
hooker for the Middlebury rugby team!
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Stacy Lightfoot, College Counselor, College Access Center, Chattanooga, TN
A Chattanooga, TN native, Stacy received a Bachelors degree in communications from DePauw
University in Indiana, where she was a Bonner Scholar. After briefly returning to Chattanooga to
work as the Career Development Director at Girls Incorporated, Stacy left to pursue a Masters
degree in International Service from the University of Roehampton in London, England. As part
of her graduate program, she taught mathematics and English in Kingston, Jamaica. Stacy
currently works for the Public Education Foundation in Chattanooga as a college advisor and
divides her time at two Chattanooga public schools, the Center for Creative Arts and Howard
School of Academics and Technology. She is going into her 7th year as college advisor. She
serves on the boards of several organizations in Chattanooga including Ballet Tennessee, The
Chattanooga African American Museum, The Jamal Rashed Memorial Scholarship Fund, and is
also on the University of Alabama African American Advisory Board. She is a member of Alpha
Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated. Stacy also served as the Executive Director of the Ruben
Studdard Foundation for the Advancement of Children in the Music Arts for four years until
October 2007. She often assists Ruben’s mother, Emily Studdard, with his music camp and other
special projects.
Joseph O. Montgomery, Voorhees College, Director of Admissions, Denmark, SC. A 2000 graduate of
Voorhees College with a Bachelor of Science in Biology and Minor in Chemistry, Joseph taught science
and coached Track and Field at Sumter High School immediately following graduation. In 2002, he
started his career in Admissions at Voorhees College and for the next three years worked in the field
helping students realize the access to college. In 2005, he became a Senior Assistant Director of
Admission at the University of Miami. In this role, he was the campus Coordinator for six dual degree
programs (Dual Honors Program for Medicine, Dual Honors Program for Law, Dual Honors Program in
Marine Geology, Dual Honors Program for Latin American Studies, Dual Honors Program in Exercise
Physiology and Dual Honors in Physical Therapy). Along with that assignment, he traveled and
maintained the Southeastern portion of the United States which was defined as: NC, SC, TN, AR, LA,
KY, AL, GA, MS, and WV. He had responsibility admitting and awarding scholarships to qualified
applicants from his travel region. On May 1st 2008, Joseph was named the Director of Admissions at
Voorhees College.
Jessica Morales, Director of Transition and Enrollment Services, Valencia Community College,
Orlando, FL Growing up with modest beginnings, Jessica Morales understood early on the value of a
quality education. She is a native U.S. Virgin Islander, born and raised in St. Croix, who decided to leave
the island and pursue higher education at Chestnut Hill College (CHC) in Philadelphia, PA. After
graduating with her Bachelor in Science degree at CHC, Jessica was chosen for a position as an
Admission Counselor at her alma mater. While working there she earned a Master of Science in
Administration of Human Services. She was later promoted to Assistant Director of
Admission/Coordinator of On-Campus Recruitment and Home-school Students. In this role, Jessica
achieved a 37% increase in the number of visitors attending on-campus events. Subsequently, she moved
to Orlando to be closer to family starting as a Coordinator of Transition Services at Valencia Community
College. Four months later she became the Assistant Director of Transition Services and a little over a
year later was promoted again to her current position as Director of Transition and Enrollment Services.
She continues to work within the Admission profession with much success and now imparts the same
passion toward education as she did in her formative years.
Woody O’Cain, Vice President for Enrollment, Erskine College, Due West, SC Woody began his
more than 21 years in college admissions at Queens University of Charlotte in 1987. After five years in
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Charlotte, Woody accepted a position as an Assistant Director in the Honors College at the University of
South Carolina. In 1996, he became Vice President for Enrollment at the University of Evansville until
his move to Furman University as Director of Admissions in 1998. Most recently, Woody serves as the
Vice President for Enrollment at Erskine College in Due West, South Carolina. Interestingly, Woody is
from a town that has produced more successful admissions professionals, per capita, than any other place
in the world.
Karen Svetlay, College Advisor, Mountain Brook High School, Mountain Brook, AL Karen has
been the College Advisor at Mountain Brook High School in Birmingham, Alabama, for four years.
Previously, she worked in college admissions at Birmingham-Southern College for four years. She
received a Bachelor of Arts from Davidson College and a Master of Arts in Public and Private
Management from Birmingham-Southern College. Karen loves Mexican food and cheesy high school
movies and is looking forward to being part of the Board!
Annual Awards 2009
The Larry West Award is highest award given by the Southern Association for College Admission
Counseling. The award is based on longevity of service and dedication to SACAC, outstanding
contributions to the admission counseling profession, leadership within that profession, and
dedication to the students we serve.
Larry West was the consummate professional with a life time devoted to helping students reach
their potential. He served our profession well with his eye on the ethics of college admissions and
making certain that others were well versed. Larry served SACAC in many capacities including as
chair of the Admission Practices committee, NACAC delegate, president-elect and president. He
was a strong negotiator and mediator who listened to every voice. His sense of humor and his
dedication to the profession made him a great choice as a leader within our organization and an
example for all in his service to students.
The 2009 Larry West Award recipient, Richard Powell, is a person with an extensive and impressive
history of service to SACAC and NACAC. His knowledge of the profession and dedication to the
students he serves has made him well suited to a wealth of regional and national committees and efforts.
Leading SACAC as president as well as other committees, he has served as NACAC parliamentarian and
Chair of both the AP and Governance and Nomination Committees. Vicki Englehart says of Richard
Powell, “Richard has a keen eye for spotting talent in members of our profession and guiding them
toward the places where their service is most helpful.” And his good friend Sam Moss writes, “I can
think of no one who has been a more consummate professional and worked for high standards in the
profession.” As Sam says and we all agree, Richard Powell is a “no-brainer” for our highest honor, the
Larry West Award.
The William Starling Award for Mentoring. Bill Starling taught all who worked with him the true
purpose of work. He worked hard, set an example of integrity, and trained himself to see and shape
the best in people. He always saw beyond the day to day, whether it was encouraging his staff to
further their education or showing constant interest in their families (for he himself was a family
man). He inspired rather than demanded quality. In two ways especially he valued his employees:
He gently, consistently, and purposefully educated his employees on standards of the profession,
and he was loyal to the people he invested of himself: He corrected those who made errors, but also
defended them rigorously to the family or administrator who felt underappreciated or
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misunderstood.
Our 2009 William Starling Award recipient’s nomination began with this statement. “First impressions
are always important, but when those impressions last you have found a true mentor.” Vicki Englehart
has been a model mentor to new members of the profession, specifically for those attending the SACAC
Summer Seminar program. Of Vicki, these words are said: collegiality, genuine friendship,
thoroughness, organization, sense of humor, poised, approachable, teeming with unlimited information,
displays accepting warmth. Summer Seminar is not the only SACAC program where Vicki is present. In
her new role as Professional Development Chair, she is overseeing our long-standing programs keeping
them relevant, sought after and on task, while helping us develop new programming to offer even more
opportunities for those in SACAC and beyond. As our President-elect Jean Jordan says, “I think Bill
would be smiling to see Vicki as the winner of his award this year.”
The Garrett Klein Award recognizes those with Mid-level Service to our profession. Garrett Klein
began his professional career in the undergraduate admissions office at Vanderbilt University.
During the decade he worked in that office, Garrett impressed all with whom he worked, and he
was promoted three times. Garrett demonstrated complete commitment to students and unyielding
loyalty to Vanderbilt. He approached all he did with energy, enthusiasm and wit. He was ambitious
in the best sense of the word—always wanting to learn more and to become more effective. Garrett
was committed to contributing to the development of others by sharing his experience and
knowledge through conference presentations and by serving on the faculty at SACAC’s Dry Run
workshop. He was incisive, analytical and incredibly intelligent. His capacity for long hours and
hard work was equaled only by his ability to laugh.
Of our 2009 Garrett Klein Award winner, it was said, “Vern radiates what I call constant cheer and
goodwill. He adds ‘good vibrations’ to every meeting or conversation.” In addition to his many years of
loyal and dedicated service to North Carolina State University, Vern Granger has been a force in helping
SACAC meet its mission to improve college access for underrepresented students working with
SACAC’s camp colleges. Vern is willing to do anything that is asked of him for SACAC. Like Garrett
Klein, Vern approaches all he does with energy and enthusiasm.
The President’s Award for Excellence is designed to be flexible in the number of recipients chosen in
a given year and the kinds of outstanding contributions being recognized. Recipient(s) come either
from the high school or college/university side.
Of our 2009 President’s Award recipient, former SACAC president Phyllis Gill states, “Linda McMullen
is an unsung hero for SACAC. Her tireless dedication to SACAC’s Drive in Workshop program has
helped increase this outreach and professional development initiative throughout our organization.”
The early years of Drive in Workshops found one or two successful programs with the hope and goal of
adding more each year. Linda took this goal to heart as she developed a yearly Drive in Workshop for
North Carolina, rotating it around the state and drawing in volunteers from public and private high
schools and colleges. When SACAC developed the State Initiatives program, Linda was active in North
Carolina and her efforts led her to serve as chair for SACAC’s Drive in Workshops. Because of her
tireless efforts, SACAC has programs in every state and we know she would love to see one in the
Caribbean!
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The Rising Star Award is a NACAC award honoring individuals and programs that exemplify
excellence and dedication to serving the needs of students in the transition from high school to
college. This award encourages state and regional affiliates to look within their associations, identify
and nurture those new members with less than five years of experience and programs that are
deserving of this honor and also encourage the honorees to continue their professional development
through membership in NACAC.
This year SACAC selected a Rising Star individual nominee and a program nominee for the
NACAC Rising Star Award.
The SACAC nominee for the 2009 Rising Star Award is Leslie Jackson. With 5 years of experience
in college admission counseling, Leslie is an active member of SACAC, having served as a faculty
member for Dry Run. Her co-worker, Nancy Estes, shares that Leslie’s work extends beyond her job as
Assistant Director of Admissions. She explains, “Leslie has assisted on the Georgia Tech campus in
helping prospective and current students find their place on campus. She volunteers every year to be a
Freshmen Partner which matches a residence hall with a campus mentor. She has hosted dinners, taken
students shopping, organized weekend trips and offered a listening ear to students.” In recognition of her
work at Georgia Tech and for SACAC, we recognize Leslie Jackson as our Rising Star Nominee for
NACAC’s Rising Star Award.
The SACAC program nomination for the 2009 Rising Star Award goes to the Mini-Camp College
Workshops
In continuing to promote post-secondary access and opportunities to first generation and minority
students, the Human Relations Committee of SACAC held mini-camp college workshops. The
workshops took place during the spring 2009 at six locations throughout the southeast and are designed to
educate students about the college search, financial aid resources, and how to make themselves
competitive in the admission process. The workshops were based on the successful Camp College model,
a week-long planning for college program that takes places throughout the country. Session presenters
were college counselors and admission officers from throughout the SACAC region.
Special thanks go to Vern Granger, the Human Relations Committee Chair, and all of the site leaders for
the workshops:
 Atlanta- Nicole Shaub, Atlanta International School, Carl Forbes, ACT, and Leslie Jackson,
Georgia Tech, Jackie Pearson, University of Georgia
 Miami- Michelle Demian and Liana Mentor, University of Miami
 Tampa- Kimberly Stodghill, Berkeley Preparatory School
 Charlotte- Kathy Kraus, Charlotte Latin School, and Anne Shandley, Cannon School
 Raleigh- Myron Burney, NC State University
 Nashville- Brandi Smith, Vanderbilt University
Changes in Membership Rates
The new membership rate will go into effect in August. The membership rate is as follows:
$50 for institutions with one principal member
$20 for all others within that institution
$50 for independent counselors
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$20 for retired and student members
*A school district can apply as an institution and all counselors in that district pay only $20!
Update on the DREAM ACT Action Alert –
Thank you to everyone in SACAC who took the time to log in and send e-mails to their members of Congress in
support of the DREAM Act. Of the 1285 messages sent, 285 were from SACAC members – or 18%! It’s not too
late to send a message! Please log in to the legislative action center at NACAC at http://capwiz.com/nacac/home/
If you are interested in knowing more about the government relations committee and how you can become involved
e-mail Patty Montague, Chair, at montagup@marist.com
SACAC Annual Conference 2010: Jacksonville, FL!
Did you know that Jacksonville is THE largest city in the contiguous United States? Or that Jacksonville
was the movie capital of the U.S. before Hollywood. Now the biggest (well, almost) and definitely the
best regional ACAC is coming to Jacksonville for a Conference on April 18-20, 2010, so mark your
calendars!
To make the 2010 Conference great, we need great sessions. Remember how great the sessions were in
Raleigh? Now is your chance to help get in on the planning for the 2010 Conference by submitting a
session proposal.
You may ask, “Why should I submit and/or present a session?” Well here are the top ten reasons:
10
9
8
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6
5
4
3
2
1
It’s fun!
It will advance your professional knowledge (and look good on your resume)!
Maybe you will be quoted in “Inside Higher Ed”!
Who knows this area/topic better than you – strut your stuff!
You can prepare a wiz-bang PowerPoint!
If you don’t, “swimming with the fishes” can happen a whole lot easier in Jacksonville than
Raleigh! (Ever heard of the Jacksonville Mafia?)
Do it with friends/colleagues and share the joy fun!
It means you HAVE to come to the conference so your school/college will want to pay for you!
You’ve got a real passion for college admission and counseling!
Because SACAC is a totally volunteer organization and it is YOUR input that makes us great and
we need all our great people to participate.
We need sessions for public high school counselors, private/independent school counselors, independent
counselors, public college/university admission officers, financial aid officers, community colleges,
community-based organizations, and more!
If you have knowledge, interest, expertise, etc. or if you know someone who does, or even if you have a
good idea that you would like to see presented but don’t know who should do it, send in a proposal.
There is a form on the SACAC website and one is included with this edition of Southern Scope.
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If you have any questions or would like to help plan next spring’s conference, please be in touch with Bill
Dingledine (864.467.1838 or wsdingle@educdir.com). Thank you!
Pre-Conference Workshop or Conference Session Proposal
SACAC Conference, April 17-20, 2010
Jacksonville, Florida
Please return this form to the conference registration area or fax/email to: Bill Dingledine, Educational
Directions, P.O. Box 5249, Greenville, SC 29606; Phone: 864-467-1838; Fax: 864-467-0780; Email:
wsdingle@educdir.com. Also available at www.sacac.org.
SESSION TITLE:
Description of Content: Please include a session description, suitable for publication in the SACAC Conference
Registration Booklet and Program (50 words or less)
Knowledge or Experience Level:
[ ] Beginner
[ ] All Levels
Preferred Format:
[ ] 3 Hour Pre-Conference Workshop
Intended Audience: (Check all that apply)
[ ] Secondary
[ ] Postsecondary
[ ] Independent Counselors
[ ] All
[ ] One Hour Conference Session
AUDIO VISUAL REQUIREMENTS (podium is typically provided):
SACAC DOES NOT PROVIDE LCD/DVD PLAYERS OR INTERNET ACCESS!!!!! (Presenters must either
bring/borrow their own LCD and/or pay for internet access.)
____Screen
____Overhead Projector/AV Cart
_____ Slide Projector/AV Cart
____Flip Chart
____Additional table (for panel type presentations)
PRESENTERS (All presenters must submit a short biographical sketch- 2 or 3 sentences – to be submitted to
NACAC.)
Moderator: Responsible for communicating with participating presenters
Name:
Institution:
Email:
Complete Address:
Office Phone:
Biographical Information:
Title:
Office Fax:
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Participating Presenters:
Name:
Institution:
Email:
Title:
Biographical Information:
Name:
Institution:
Email:
Title:
Biographical Information:
Name:
Institution:
Email:
Title:
Biographical Information:
Name:
Institution:
Email:
Title:
Biographical Information:
Name:
Institution:
Email:
Biographical Information:
Title:
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Personal Perspectives
University of Saint Andrews – Counselor’s Perspective
Kirk Blackard, Christ School of Asheville, Asheville, NC
The faint sound of waves crashing on the West Sands beach and a bagpipe player’s music temporarily warmed the
chilly air. These were the sounds our group of 37 counselors from across the US and Canada heard as we made our
way to the Links Clubhouse situated on St Andrew’s Old Course and site of several historic British Open final
rounds.
This was a most fitting conclusion to our two-day tour of the University of St Andrews, its programs, facilities and
people - all of which left me excited about Scotland’s oldest university and indeed the third oldest university in the
English speaking world, and among the top five universities for its teaching and research in the United Kingdom.
One cannot escape the University’s connection with history. Remnants of a twelfth century castle and cathedral
remain within a few blocks of the campus. The University itself has several historic landmarks and buildings which
have withstood the test of time. St Salvator’s Quad, a model of medieval architecture, continues to be utilized by
the University and has been around since 1450. There is also a twentieth century hall of residence by the same
name which is located adjacent to the Quad. An academic courtyard, named after Mary Queen of Scots, and where
a tree is said to have been planted by her, is the site of the world-renowned Divinity School. The King James
Library, one of twelve libraries and where teaching at the University is said to have begun, now serves as a smaller
library for students studying religion and psychology. Parliament Hall, too, where our group spent much of its
time, once served as a classroom and debating hall. The building continues to be used for frequent and lively
debates.
It was obvious to many of us that the University of St Andrews has moved with the times. The facilities we
observed have been renovated and are in good working order. Mixed with the old are also plenty of modern
buildings on the west side of the town, including a new £45 million Medical Sciences building which is under
construction and the University is also investing in a new £5 million research center to be completed in the next
few years. The University continues to update all of its classrooms and labs with state-of-the-art equipment. While
meeting lecturers from the chemistry and computer science departments, we were shown modern laboratories,
classrooms which included smart boards, DVD players and overhead projectors.
The University appears ahead of its time in the area of research. I was surprised to learn of the extensive research
that has been, and continues to be, conducted there. Among the many research projects, one involves a lightemitting sticking plaster which will help revolutionize the treatment of skin cancer; a second project identifies
treatments which will reverse aspects of Alzheimer’s disease.
Our tour of the University included a partial tour of the town since the two are closely intertwined. Our guide,
wearing a traditional scarlet gown, shared student experiences and traditions as we walked down narrow cobbled
stone streets, most of them lined with student apartments, shops or cafés. On two occasions, he surprised us all by
directing our attention to a design or engraving on the pavement. On American campuses, student guides usually
point out similar type engravings where a school’s insignia or Latin motto might appear, but in this case, our tour
guide was informing us of where someone was burned at the stake. Fortunately, he was referring to historical
figures several hundred years ago and not of individuals in more recent times.
In addition to the physical aspects of the University, its research efforts and its setting, it was fascinating to walk
the halls where other famous alumni have traversed: alumni such as John Napier, inventor of logarithms, James
Wilson, one of the father’s of the US Constitution, Sir James Black, Nobel Prize recipient and, most recently,
Prince William of the royal family. A discussion with one US student, a fourth year computer science major, led
me to believe I might be speaking with a future distinguished alumnus of the school as he shared with us his
research and close working relationships with faculty and peers. Meetings with students such as this only added to
my favorable impression of the University.
The University’s Admissions office created an outstanding program, which gave us an up close and personal
perspective of the school. The two-day tour was packed full of formal and informal meetings, but allowed us plenty
of time to breathe and enjoy special events including the farewell dinner.
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On that final night of the tour, as I walked across the eighteenth fairway of St Andrews’ Old Course, the lungs of
the bagpipe player relaxed and the waves crashing on the shores of the West Sands beach subsided. My mind
wondered to future greats, not of the golf course, but of the University where self-directed learners, ambitious
students and those who just might be brave enough to walk to the tune of a different bagpipe player will not only
thrive, but, I anticipate, soar to even greater heights as a result of their unique undergraduate experience at the
University of St Andrews.
Confessions of a Selective “Cause Junkie”
Angela J. Kornman, Rhodes College, Memphis, TN
My experiences in the world of social advocacy began when I was quite young. Over the years, I have
written my share of strongly worded letters to government leaders and held my share of picket signs. I
learned early on that it is neither prudent nor effective to attempt to support everything and thus embraced
the nature of being a selective “cause junkie.” Causes are like stray cats; some you just have to take
home, but others you should simply wish well and keep an eye out for. Education is one cause in
particular that I consistently keep close to me. It is always worth the time and effort, and it always needs
help. So, the choice of whether to attend my first NACAC Legislative Conference in DC was indeed an
easy one.
With the aid of a generous travel grant that I received from SACAC, I set off for the conference and
keenly awaited the unique opportunity of meeting one-on-one with my local government leaders on
Capitol Hill. Furthermore, I eagerly anticipated learning more about our organization’s previous and ongoing legislative efforts, as well as meeting my fellow advocates in the field and hearing narratives of
their past experiences.
As a result of the conference, I grew professionally in my capacity as a college admissions counselor and
also personally as one who tries to remain civic-minded and involved in advocacy opportunities. The
beauty of a conference such as this one is that it helps to engender a union of those two worlds. As
professionals and experts in our field, we have a special vantage point from which to view the issues that
we have the potential to greatly influence. Taking up the cause of enhancing the post-secondary
opportunities of young people in our country is everyone’s business. We are all affected in some way by
the successes and obstacles that await our students. We also have the choice of whether our efforts are an
active catalyst of their success, or if in doing less than we can we unwittingly become a passive
component of their obstacles.
For those in the realm of high school guidance and teaching, having students strive for post-secondary
credentials is a part of daily life. Many of you reading this may be high school professionals whose
everyday life in advising and instruction is itself an effort in advocacy, and I applaud those of you who are
able and willing to spare any of what time you have to take extra measures to reach out to legislators and
inspire your peers to do the same. As many of you realize, a strong college-going culture has the ability
to positively change the complexion of the high school experience by influencing the choices and
behaviors of the students within it. To be sure, it is also in the best interest of those working in
universities and colleges to have an ever-increasing pool of applicants who are prepared and enthusiastic
about their post-secondary opportunities.
I came home from the conference more than just satisfied with the conversations I initiated with my local
representatives, but also with a refreshed perspective on my role as a professional-advocate. I submit that
we should revise our thinking on what “lobbying for education” means. The goal of having a welleducated society should not be perceived as a special interest; it is in the interest of all of us. Moreover,
in appealing to our government for funding and policies that would provide our students with the
opportunity to embark on the best of all possible pathways, we are not asking for special favors. Rather,
we are doing our government and communities a favor. We are offering our expertise on what is truly the
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best kind of investment we can make for the recovery and future health of our country. We are serving
our students by defending their right to a quality education and helping to grow this nation as one that
possess an outstanding community of educated citizens. Thinking globally, our efforts might also inspire
others to put the issue of access to education at the forefront.
As you wrap up this school year, I applaud your on-going efforts and sincerely hope that you will support
the legislative activities of our organization however you can. In these challenging times, I am inspired
by the optimism and endurance I see in NACAC members, both new and experienced. As we all look
forward to the continued improvement of our institutions, it is valuable to count legislative participation
as a part of that equation. Education and students always need good advocates, and we are just the right
people for the job.
Rookie of the Year?
Laura Clark, Providence Day School, Charlotte, NC
I just met with the mother of a current senior this morning to debrief about her son’s college application
process. For the most part, I did a lot of listening. She was well intentioned and wanted to learn from this
year’s experience as she prepares for her second son to enter the “process” in another year. At the end of
the meeting, I realized that’s exactly what I’m doing right now as I approach the end of my first year in
college counseling. What have I learned, and how will I do better next year? Of course, my transition to
college counseling was probably a bit easier than most since I have worked at Providence Day School for
twelve years as an instructor in the English department. As a teacher, I wrote hundreds of
recommendation letters and guided students through their college essays. I was quite comfortable in my
English teacher role.
In preparation for my career change, I attended SACAC Summer Seminar on Furman’s campus. I can’t
say enough about this experience. I have used the college tours from Summer Seminar as a launching
point when I discuss college visits with students and parents, and now I have a small network of seasoned
professionals and new counselors to call upon for advice. When I entered my new office as Associate
Director of College Guidance in August of 2008, I already knew the students, the faculty, a large portion
of the parent body, the culture of the school, and how the daily routine ran at Providence Day. As a
teacher, I was used to multi-tasking and being on stage for the better part of a day. I was organized,
energetic, and, I think, warm and intentional as I met with students and their parents. How I behaved as a
teacher transferred quite nicely to the counseling role, and the information gained at Summer Seminar
gave me the nuts and bolts to build upon. Of course, what continues to be my area of weakness is my lack
of knowledge of the over 4,000 colleges and universities that are out there. Researching schools to create
the college lists took a great deal of time, and I often ran to Jack Whelan, the Director of College
Guidance, and Phyllis Gill, an Associate Director of College Guidance, for those nuggets of inside
information about each school. Many meetings with students and/or parents left me feeling quite guilty
and unprepared when I couldn’t answer a question and resorted to a frequent comment that sounded
something like, “Let me do a little research on my end, and I’ll get back to you.”
I have to admit, however, that the most overwhelming experience this past year was being a “first timer”
at NACAC in Seattle. NACAC, to me as a first timer, resembled sorority rush. Everyone knew each other,
and I was an outsider. And I especially felt awkward at the social events. In fact, if Phyllis and Jack had
not been there, I may have ordered room service and a movie instead of attending the parties. It had been
such a long time since I had to put myself out there in a totally new arena. No one knew my personality,
my talents, or anything else about me, and for the first time in a very long time, I became an observer and
somewhat of an introvert. I hadn’t felt such discomfort since my freshman year of college. How
appropriate, to feel the way my students may feel as they move from the safe and comfortable Providence
Day community to a college environment where they have to reestablish themselves.
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I am just about finished with the junior year student/parent conferences, and I’m happy to report that I
have not floundered nearly as much as I thought I would when parents ask specific questions about
Clemson’s engineering program, Northeastern’s cooperative education program, or Duke’s subject area
tests requirement. Maybe it’s because I am now comfortable saying, “Let me do a little bit of research on
my end, and I’ll get back to you,” or maybe it’s because we’re all working together to navigate through
the daunting college admissions process. I need to continue to work on my listening and questioning skills
because by listening and asking the right follow up questions I’ve learned so much about what matters to
a student. College tours are a must, and even though I would love to travel the country looking at
colleges, I must maintain a balance between the stacks of applications on my desk and the amount of time
I spend visiting campuses, so I’ll work a few in this next year, budget providing, concentrating on the
schools my students add and maintain on their Family Connection college lists. And I’m sure that Jack
and Phyllis will continue to patiently field my questions as I tackle my second year. I entered the
education field thirteen years ago because I loved forming meaningful relationships with young people,
and that’s exactly what this first year in college guidance has enabled me to do.
Calendar of Events
Summer Seminar
Dates: July 17-20, 2009
Location: Tulane University
Cost: $425 for members. $475 for non-members. The fee includes lodging, most meals, all materials, and ground
transportation to visit local colleges during the program. Commuter cost is $325 for members. $375 for nonmembers.
Summer Seminar will provide participants time to reflect, share ideas, and recreate. Attendees will have the
opportunity to tour colleges and universities in the New Orleans area.
www.sacac.org
Dry Run
Dates: Friday, July 31 – Monday, August 3, 2009.
Location: University of South Florida
Cost: $400 for SACAC members and $450 for non-members
Dry Run is an annual workshop designed to provide practical experience for new admission professionals. The
program provides training in relevant basic skills and discussion of pertinent issues and situations encountered in
the admission profession. Participants will attend presentations, engage in case studies, work within small-group
settings, and participate in mock-situation settings. Faculty for the workshop are experienced admission
professionals and secondary school guidance/counseling professionals.
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Announcing: SACAC “Sweet Tea” Counselor Tour 2009!
SACAC Sweet Tea Tour
June 7 – 12, 2009.
$425 for members and $475 for non-members
Join us for some southern hospitality as we explore a wide variety of college options in the South. Our tour begins
in Atlanta and takes us to Athens, GA, Birmingham and Tuscaloosa, AL.
From new counselors to seasoned professionals this trip offers something for everyone. Each day we will visit at
least two schools in our host cities where we will enjoy a tour and information session and a meal with our
colleagues. Three evening workshops will be held during the week allowing participants a chance to discuss hot
topics in college admissions, and share ideas for best practices. Plenty of time will also be built in to socialize and
explore our surroundings.
The registration fee includes transportation to and from college campuses, most meals, overnight lodging on college
campuses, and transportation to the Atlanta airport at the conclusion of the trip. Participants must make their own
arrangements for travel to and from Atlanta.
For additional information, contact co-directors:
Kim Stodghill - stodgkim@berkeleyprep.org
Ryan Riggs - riggsr@episcopalhigh.org
Ya’ll come see what the South has to offer!
President
Jean Jordan
Emory University
200 B. Jones Center
Office of Admissions
Atlanta, GA 30322
Phone: 404-727-0175
Fax: 404-727-4303
jjordan@emory.edu
Executive Assistant
Elizabeth Merritt
139 River Wind Drive
North Augusta, SC 29841
Phone: 803-215-0023
Fax: 803-442-3787
info@sacac.org
www.sacac.org
Editor
Lindsey Waite
Ravenscroft School
7409 Falls of Neuse Road
Raleigh, NC 27615
Phone: 919-847-0900, ext.2517
Fax: 919-847-7592
lwaite@ravenscroft.org
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