Graduate Students Sydney Johnson and Mandy Schiltz Selected as Student Ambassadors for American School Counselor Association National Conference

Two graduate students in the NC State College of Education’s School Counseling program have been selected to serve as student ambassadors for the American School Counselor Association’s national conference this summer. 

Sydney Johnson and Mandy Schiltz, who are both earning their master’s in school counseling, were selected through a competitive process to travel to Long Beach, California, in July to serve as student ambassadors, where they will help facilitate conference events.

“I am over the moon excited to be selected as a student ambassador for the ASCA conference,” Johnson said. “I am representing my university and peers and serving as a bridge between attendees and the larger mission of ASCA, to support and empower school counselors in making a positive impact on students’ lives.”

“I am honored to have been selected as a student ambassador,” Schiltz said. “This program allows me to attend the conference, which would not have been possible otherwise. I will have the opportunity to attend lectures and workshops, learn about the behind-the-scenes work of our governing body and volunteer to provide an excellent experience for attendees.”

Learning through experiences and having opportunities to gain knowledge through real-world scenarios, Schiltz said, was one of the main reasons she chose to enroll in the College of Education. 

Although she has already been able to collaborate with professionals in the school counseling field through the program, attending the ASCA conference will be the first time she attends an event where she can learn from thousands of others whose careers are dedicated to school counseling. 

“I am most excited to connect with professionals to create a nationwide network of support and possibilities of collaboration,” Schiltz said. “I am incredibly thankful for the opportunities I have had since starting at NC State.”

Johnson is also looking forward to the opportunity to meet with other experienced and knowledgeable professionals in the field, and to gaining new insights and expanding her network while attending the conference. 

She is particularly excited about speaking with professionals from around the world, to bring a global perspective into the work of serving the student population at home. 

“I believe this experience will be incredibly valuable as I continue my journey toward becoming a school counselor,” she said. “Attending the conference will allow me to learn directly from researchers and seasoned professionals, gaining insight into best practices, evidence-based strategies and valuable resources to implement in my future school counseling program.”