The Commission is the state agency responsible for administering financial aid programs for students attending California's public and private universities, colleges, and vocational schools.

The Arthur S. Marmaduke High School Counselor Award is an annual award recognizing an outstanding California high school counselor who demonstrates exemplary skills in helping students fulfill their dreams of pursuing their higher education. Each year, the California Student Aid Commission solicits nominations recommending a California high school counselor who demonstrates effectiveness in serving students in preparing for and pursuing their higher education.


Candidates will be evaluated based on their work to educate students about financial aid opportunities, their participation in events such as college fairs and workshops, their impact on financial aid application completion rates, what they have done to help students prepare for college, and their support for underrepresented and first-generation families.

The nominee must:
  • Hold a Pupil Personnel Services Credential (PPS Credential) and work with high school students.
  • Have worked as a school counselor, and/or district administrator of school counseling programs for at least three years.
  • Have worked as a high school counselor for at least 1 year with their current employer.
  • Must NOT serve multiple school sites.
Criteria for recognition:
  • Strive to be model citizens of their community, the school counseling community, and their broader professional community.
  • Maintain high moral standards in their personal and professional conduct.
  • Must have been responsible for high school counseling innovations or further development of programs to support all students' career, personal/social, and academic development.
  • Demonstrate leadership, advocacy, and collaboration in their work and promote equity and access to opportunities and rigorous educational experiences for all students to maximize student achievement.
  • Demonstrate superior skills and dedication to promoting the importance of financial aid to students, families, and the community.
The deadline for the 2024-25 school year nominations will be on October 31, 2024.

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* Nominee Information
The person you are nominating for an award.
Name of Nominee:

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* How many years has the nominee worked as a high school counselor in California?

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* School Information for Your Nominee

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* Nominee's Work Phone:

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* How many years has the nominee worked as a high school counselor at their current high school?

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* Nominator Information
This section is for your information. Please make sure your email is correct below for contact.

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