Past GEM Award Recipients

The Going the Extra Mile program recognizes the exemplary work of International ACAC
members by highlighting a dedication to our profession, 
our colleagues, and our students by demonstrating best practices,
acts of goodwill, creativity, and ethics.

Kelly Braun, Saigon South International School, Vietnam
Emily Dobson, Edge College Consultants, Brazil
Jamie Kanki, Concourse, USA
Marie Kobayashi, St Mary’s, Japan
Joan Liu, UWCSEA East Campus, Singapore
Selena Malla, USEF Nepal
Samantha Moktan Lama, GEMS Higher Institute of Education, Nepal
Diva Shrestha, Nepal Leadership Academy, Nepal 

The Fall 2019 GEM awardees are the Justice League who had huge impact and have done admirable work helping and advocating for Nepalese students whose scholarships to attend university were revoked.  Nominators noted the inspiring demonstration of college admissions professionals coming together in this massive act of good will to help so many students at a critical time. The group’s collaboration was described as an example of empathetic, resourceful, collaborative, creative, and above all student-centered teamwork.

We are very pleased to thank Kelly, Emily, Jamie, Marie, Joan, Selena, Samantha and Diva for their dedication to our profession, and offer our congratulations both to them and their schools on receiving the Fall 2018 Going the Extra Mile award. 

Dale Ford
British International School of Phuket, Thailand

The Spring 2018 GEM awardee was Dale Ford of the International British School of Phuket in Thailand. Two members who nominated Dale particularly noted that he is an incredible advocate for his fellow members of International ACAC. One nominator wrote that “with the sudden demise of Naviance as a platform to overseas schools, Dale Ford took the initiative to create a shared space for counselors to compare notes on the platforms we are considering.”  His second nominator noted that Dale has been exceptional, including his work in creating “incredibly valuable resources to share” and again noting his participation in webinars to make sure everyone in International ACAC had access to the information they need.

Mitsuko Leonard
University of California, Davis; Davis, CA 

The Fall 2017 GEM award was conferred on Mitsuko Leonard of University of California, Davis. The two nominators particularly noted Mitsuko’s dedicated work on the International ACAC Professional Development committee. Her leadership role as co-chair of Webinar Wednesdays, increasing the professionalism and breadth of the virtual professional development series, has been instrumental in the result of the program being recognized by NACAC with the Rising Star Award.

Jolynn Vallejo
California College of the Arts; Oakland, CA 

Jolynn had two nominators: Robert Duff from Northlands and Rachel Dillon from The American School Foundation. Robert noted, “One of the most outstanding aspects I would like to emphasize is her level of empathy; just by having very engaging conversations with a few of our students, she could pick up feelings and life events our students were facing (by analyzing their art work and by showing a true interest in what the students were trying to express). I have held many such portfolio reviews, but it is not usual to see this level of commitment and empathy.” Rachel added that, “She is wholeheartedly committed to whatever it is she chooses to dedicate herself to whether that be her music, her advanced studies in psychology, her daughter, or for the purposes this nomination, her work at CCA (and beyond!).”

Marie Whalen
Whitworth University; Spokane, WA

Marie’s nominator, Claudia Botero from Marymount School Medellin, particularly noted Ms. Whalen’s generosity in sharing her knowledge and mentoring both counselors and students. Claudia described Marie in glowing terms as “knowledgeable, patient, giving of her time, watches out for her institution and is proud of it, stands by and exalts her international students any chance she can, and loves, loves, loves what she does.”

Marie Kobayashi
St Mary's International School; Tokyo, Japan

The first inaugural GEM award was conferred on Marie Kobayashi of St Mary’s International School of Japan.  Marie’s nominator, Peter Hauet, particularly noted her dedicated work to organizing the largest college fair in the history of the 25-year-old Kanto Plains College Fair. The Kanto Plains College Fair has been going on for nearly 25 years alternating between St. Mary's International School and The American School in Japan.  Marie worked with all of the Kanto Plains, Japan high schools and the U.S. Embassy to make it an event to attend with universities from all over the world represented. Peter wrote that not only does Marie go out of her way to make college admissions representatives’ trips proceed as smoothly as possible, but that she always places her students first.

We are pleased to thank Marie for her dedication to our profession, and offer our congratulations both to her and to St. Mary’s International School of Japan on her receiving the inaugural Going the Extra Mile award (January, 2017).