Central Counselor Kris Hilton Named One of the Best
Central Academy counselor Kris Hilton has been honored as one of the best by the Colleges That Change Lives organization.
For the students she’s helped and the people she’s worked with over the years, the reaction to this news may be “It’s about time!”
Kris Hilton has been counseling students at Central Academy for 14 years as they soar from one of the nation’s most distinguished magnet school programs to prestigious colleges and universities far and wide. Think of her as an academic air traffic controller.
Finally, and deservedly, she’s been chosen by the Colleges That Change Lives organization as one of their 2015 Counselors That Change Lives in recognition of her dedication to the college counseling profession as it reflects the organization’s mission: to promote and support a student-centered college search process.
“I love my work here,” Hilton said upon notification of her selection. “I’m almost embarrassed by the award except that San Diego will be a great place to go and get it.”
Hilton is one of only eight around the country; make that the world since one of the honorees works at a school in Greece (!); to be so honored this year. She was nominated by her counterpart at one of the CTCL colleges where she’s helped place students in the past. She’ll formally receive the award at a national conference later this year.
Until then she’ll keep doing what she does so well: clearing well-prepped graduates for takeoff.
Below is the official CTCL press release about this year’s award-winners:
Counselors Recognized for Changing Lives of High School Students
‘Counselors That Change Lives’ Awardees Are From Schools and Programs in: Des Moines, IA; Libertyville and Chicago, IL; St. Louis, MO; Austin, TX; Seattle and Tacoma, WA; and Thessaloniki, Greece.
The Colleges That Change Lives (CTCL) Board of Directors announced awardees in the seventh annual “Counselors That Change Lives” Program.
This year’s awardees are: Amy Belstra, College Counselor, Libertyville High School, Libertyville, IL; Matt Burns, Counselor, Woodrow Wilson High School, Tacoma, WA; Yvonne Espinoza, Project Advance College Counselor, Gonzalo Garza Independent High School, Austin, TX; David Feiner, Co-Founder, Albany Park Theater Project, Chicago, IL; Kristin Hilton, Counselor, Central Academy of Des Moines Public Schools, Des Moines, IA; Eva Varellas Kanellis, Director of College Counseling and Special Programs, Anatolia College, Thessaloniki, Greece; Alice Tanaka, Director of College Counseling, Holy Names Academy, Seattle, WA; and Nanette Tarbouni, Director of College Counseling, John Burroughs School, St Louis, MO.
“We know that these outstanding counselors support our mission to help students frame their search beyond college ratings and rankings and to assist them in finding a college that cultivates a lifelong love of learning, while providing the foundation for a successful and fulfilling life. 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,” stated P.J. Petrone, Chair of the CTCL Board and Co-Director of College Counseling at Marymount High School in Los Angeles. He continued, “Too often media stories focus on the negative aspects of the college admission process and not enough on the individuals who are true to the counseling profession and change the lives of students each and everyday.”
The awardees will be recognized on the CTCL website and the National Association of College Admission Counseling (NACAC) annual conference.
ABOUT CTCL: Colleges That Change Lives, Inc. (CTCL) is a non-profit, charitable organization dedicated to the advancement and support of a student-centered college search process. We promote the goal of each student finding a college that develops a lifelong love of learning and provides the foundation for a successful and fulfilling life beyond college. On the Web: http://www.ctcl.org/about/ctcl .
