More than 1,100 college counselors from across the South tuned in this past week to the Southern Association for College Admission Counseling (SACAC) annual conference. Director of College Counseling Jonathan Ferrell, who served as SACAC president for the 2020-2021 year, oversaw the virtual event, themed Renewing Our Commitment. Ferrell also served as a featured speaker and, with National Association for College Admission Counseling CEO Angel Pérez, addressed leading through the dual pandemics of COVID and racial injustice. 

During the conference, Associate Director of College Counseling Pam Ambler received the William Starling Award for Mentoring, one of the seven awards SACAC bestows annually on its members. The award, named for longtime dean of admissions and financial aid at Wake Forest University, recognizes an individual who sets an example of integrity and shapes the best in people, who sees beyond the day-to-day and inspires rather than demands quality. 

“Pam continues to provide me and so many others with sage advice, an understanding ear and always a willingness to help out,” said SACAC Past-President Jessica Sant. “She has students' interests at heart while also being able to wonderfully support her colleagues in this profession. She encourages and lifts us up—Pam believes in people and brings out the best in them.”