Outstanding Service Counseling Award of Recognition (O.S.C.A.R)
for a lifetime of devoted service to the school counseling profession in Massachusetts
Not an annual MASCA award, the MASCA O.S.C.A.R. was established by the Governing Board in 1986 as part of MASCA’s 25th Anniversary. A lifetime achievement award, O.S.C.A.R. recognition is a to a school counselor who has dedicated a professional career of distinguished and exemplary service to the profession of school counseling. Being identified as a MASCA O.S.C.A.R. is the highest honor that can be bestowed upon a member of the school counseling profession in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
THE ORIGINAL MOTION and AWARD CITATION (1986)
I MOVE THAT, in recognition of MSCA’S 25TH Anniversary year, a new Award be established to be officially designated as the OUTSTANDING SERVICE TO COUNSELING AWARD OF RECOGNITION in honor of OSCAR KRICHMAR who has been actively involved with MSCA from the time of its first planning and organizational meetings in 1960-61 through the entire twenty-five years of its existence. AND THAT this award be viewed as the highest honor that can be bestowed upon a member of the school counseling profession in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
PROTOCOL GUIDELINES FOR SELECTING O.S.C.A.R. AWARD RECIPIENTS
Qualifying MASCA credentials and service for the O.S.C.A.R. Nomination:
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Nominees must be a current MASCA member.
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Both the length and quality of service to MASCA are primary. Service to local affiliates and ASCA are considerations.
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Minimally twenty consecutive years as a Professional Member of MASCA, including at least fifteen years as an elected or appointed officer or active committee member.
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Recipients are recognized for high quality performance standards and dedicated service to the school counseling profession.
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Candidate has stood out with their loyalty, contributions, advocacy, and dedicated service to MASCA.
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Candidate has helped MASCA move forward as a collaborative leader and has been a valuable voice for school counselors and the school counseling profession.
NOMINATION PROCESS
- There will not be an annual call for O.S.C.A.R. nominations, since it is only occasionally presented, and there is no annual deadline for nominations.
- Any current O.S.C.A.R. recipient or any MASCA member may recommend a candidate for the O.S.C.A.R. Award, in writing with qualifying credentials and service, to the MASCA Executive Director.
- The written resume statement will be forwarded to each current O.S.C.A.R.
- A designated O.S.C.A.R will convene a meeting and facilitate discussion with all OSCAR’s.
- Following discussion, each O.S.C.A.R. submits a confidential vote (email or phone call) to the designated O.S.C.A.R. member who will then tally results.
- New award recipients shall be chosen by a confidential consensus agreement of the current recipients. Ideally, the selection will be unanimous.
- Selections will remain secret until the Award Event. However, the MASCA Executive Director should confidentially be informed of an O.S.C.A.R. selection and identity of the recipient so he/she can order the O.S.C.A.R. bowl. The Professional Recognition Committee (formerly Awards Committee) Chairperson shall be informed to include an O.S.C.A.R announcement at the next Awards ceremony or event but will not be informed of the winner’s identity.
NOMINATE SOMEONE FOR AN O.S.C.A.R. BY CLICKING HERE
AWARD PRESENTATION
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The O.S.C.A.R. Award shall be presented at a MASCA Annual Conference or identified/designated Awards event.
- Announcing the new Awardee: The OSCAR recipient who best knows the newly elected awardee or the most recent OSCAR Awardee will write and deliver the citation announcing the newly selected recipient at the Award Ceremony.
- Newly selected O.S.C.A.R. shall NOT be informed of their selection until the actual presentation ceremony. In the event of extenuating circumstances, the O.S.C.A.R. Award may be given in absentia or postponed.
- An attempt shall be made to inform family members since they may wish to attend. The recipient's immediate supervisor and the superintendent shall also be informed since they may wish to attend the presentation.
PREVIOUS O.S.C.A.R. RECIPIENTS
| Oscar Krichmar (1986) |
Marilou Cashman (1992) |
Louise Forsyth (1993) |
| Lillie Davis (1995) | Carol Ryan-Tarka (1999) | Dr. Mary Mullen Burke (2000) |
| Mary Chouinard (2002) |
Ralph Sennott (2004) | Dr. Helen O'Donnell (2005) |
| Donna Brown (2006) |
John Gould (2007) |
Mary Westcott (2011) |
| Janice Tkaczyk (2010) | Ron Miller (2014) |
Bob Bardwell (2018) |
| Joe Fitzgerald (2021) | Janice Parsons (2021) | Jennifer Just McGuire (2023) |
| Massachusetts School Counselors Association, Inc. |
MASCA deeply values its diverse membership and is fully committed to creating an organization where each individual is welcomed, included, respected and empowered. No person will be excluded from MASCA on the basis of race, color, religion (creed), gender, gender expression, age, national origin (ancestry), disability, marital status, sexual orientation, political affiliation or military status, or for any other discriminatory reason. These activities include, but are not limited to, appointment of its Governing Board, hiring or firing of staff, selection of volunteers and vendors, and the providing of services. This policy is fundamental to the effective functioning of MASCA as an organization that supports counselors and promotes equity in our schools, districts and the Commonwealth.