Counselors That Change Lives

As a non-profit organization, CTCL is dedicated to the advancement and support of a student-centered college search process. Our mission is to help students frame their search beyond the ratings and rankings and to find a college that cultivates a lifelong love of learning and provides the foundation for a successful and fulfilling life beyond college.

The “Counselors That Change Lives” award recognizes those whose dedication to the college counseling profession reflects the mission of CTCL. Their tireless work does not go unrecognized and this program is our way of acknowledging all that they do to help students and families on a daily basis.

Rob serves as an amazing advocate for his students and writes the absolute best recommendations. I know that Rob’s willingness to go above and beyond with his students serves as an influence and I see the same qualities in each student of his I work with, as they are willing to go above and beyond to prove themselves as deserving candidates. Rob is an outstanding college counselor and a great advocate for Colleges That Change Lives message. I admire his commitment to his scholars and their future success in college and beyond.

The Kalamazoo Admission staff is pleased to acknowledge the dedication of John Boshoven, counselor at Community high school in Ann Arbor. John exemplifies the CTCL mission in his passion with his advisees. While walking through the hallways of his high school, you can see his strong connection to his advisees as he interacts with them on a daily basis, and not only listens to their concerns about the college search, but also, genuinely enjoys being a part of the process. John takes the time to learn about a variety of colleges so that he can give his students sound advice as to which schools are a good match for them. He is dedicated to helping students look past the rankings and into the heart of what makes a student and a college a good fit. He is a true champion of the CTCL schools and the greater mission of CTCL, Inc. He would make Loren Pope proud!

Brendan is proactive in recommending students whom he thinks would be good a fit for the colleges he chooses. He respects and appreciates the value of a liberal arts education, and the advantages of a single-sex education, which is important for our mission at Agnes Scott. He is responsive to phone calls and emails requesting information regarding students and their applications and takes a special interest in knowing each of his students and their college interests and needs. During my visits to Pinewood Prep, students in the hallways greet him by name with obvious respect and admiration. Brendan is the epitome of a guidance director who truly goes the extra mile to help his students make the right college decisions and in turn positively changing their lives. He is very deserving of being recognized with this award.

Nora is 'changing lives' every day at the Codman Academy Charter Public School. In a school community where most students will be the first in their family to attend college, Nora is the go-to college advisor, service coordinator, life coach, mentor and friend that gives each Codman student the inspiration to be the very best they can be. She has the respect, love and admiration of her students—you can see it as soon as she steps into a room. But the feeling is mutual. Nora takes every opportunity she is given to share with others the hard work and dedication her students commit to each and every day despite challenging circumstances they may face outside of the classroom. She is a visionary that helps students 'see' their true potential and what life can offer them beyond Codman. Her efforts are paying off as 100% of Codman students are accepted to four year universities and colleges each year.

Nora is also an innovator. Her 'College Speed Dating' program for rising seniors is not only creative, but smart. A college matchmaking program of sorts--this program gives students brief, but beneficial one-on-one sessions with college admission counselors who travel from all over the country to participate in this unique program. By the end of the session, students have interfaced personally with up to 12 colleges and universities. In a recent article, The Boston Globe dubbed this experience 'The Dating Game, Admissions Style.'

Nora is most deserving of this award because she sees the best everyone and continues to create opportunity for so many. She is changing the world one student at time.

John Fanning took over as Director of Counseling and College Counseling at Jones College Prep two years ago and in a short time, has made a very big impact: he has coordinated bus trips for his students, college fairs (for both Jones students and other CPS high schools), started a College Knowledge class for Jones students, and much more. There is no question that John puts students first and serves as a mentor and advocate for Jones College Prep students, as well as all students in the city of Chicago. John is extremely passionate about helping under-represented students in Chicago and is in the preliminary stages of developing a program for students in a number of Chicago high schools through the College Counselor’s Collective (CCC). John’s efforts both at Jones, and in the entire Chicago Public School system, will continue to grow and provide more opportunities for students and colleges alike. His willingness to go above and beyond for under-represented students is unmatched and I look forward to seeing not only what he accomplishes, but what his students accomplish, in the years to come.

Bridget Herrera has been involved in the international college guidance scene for almost 23 years. Her experience in college admission and financial aid actually started when she was just 17, working for the Director of Financial Aid at a small liberal arts college in California.

From there she worked in a similar office but at a rural northern New Mexico Community College. She then made the big leap to college guidance as an assistant to the counselor and then college counselor at Colegio Roosevelt in Lima, Peru. Leaving Peru, Bridget got her degree in Behavioral Science/Spanish then headed straight back overseas, this time to Guadalajara, Mexico. She spent six years there, two more in Quito, Ecuador, and has worked the last 9 years in Campinas, Brazil.

Her history perhaps illustrates not only Bridget’s many years of experience and dedication to a particular region, but also a willingness to mentor those new in the field, just as she was mentored. She has recently visited schools where there are new counselors, and also visits schools in her region that do not have access to guidance professionals. Bridget has always been a strong supporter of CTCL and its mission. When we travelled there as a group, Bridget welcomed us warmly. Her students were well educated about the CTCL schools and were open to looking outside of their comfort zones to schools that were less familiar to them. Bridget and the work she does educating both students and counselors alike about the CTCL message have made one of the biggest impacts in her region in promoting the CTCL mission.

This year I clearly saw how talented Lauren is at looking beyond the surface to the true character and potential of her students. She advocated for a student who had more than her fair share of growing pains in high school and Lauren knew that her record did not truly reflect her academic potential and ability to succeed in college. Not only did she advocate for this student, but she encouraged and supported the student in learning how to advocate for herself, during the college search process. Lauren represents the mission of CTCL in placing students at the heart of the admissions process and she goes above and beyond to make sure that they have every chance for future educational and personal success. She is truly a counselor that changes lives!

Becki is passionate about helping her students find the right fit for college. She knows that what’s important in selecting the right school isn’t brand name- it’s about her student being able to take flight and really thrive in that college’s environment. Becki is knowledgeable about colleges and universities around the country and encourages her students to get out of their comfort zone and explore the unfamiliar (and her students wind up at a variety of CTCL schools). Her students tend to be of high caliber, with specialized interests in the arts, and her recommendations are spot on- in terms of what schools she suggests to students and what she writes about applicants. Becki is active in her city, and with regional and national professional organizations. She is certainly a counselor who upholds the mission of CTCL.