Earlier this year, ACA completed its 60th anniversary and acknowledged many who helped establish the counseling profession. When you hear the names Courtland Lee, Sam Gladding, Barbara Herlihy, Gerald Corey, Brad Erford, and Allen Ivey, we are reminded of those who have made significant contributions to the counseling profession. These individuals and a number of their colleagues have created groundbreaking work that today's counselor education students learn about in their graduate studies and new professionals apply to their growing practice.

The ACA Foundation is now asking counselor education students and new professionals what they think the profession will face in the next 60 years. We know you are busy as graduate students and new professionals so we want to make this challenge something worth doing.

The American Counseling Association Foundation is celebrating all counseling graduate students and new professionals this year. As part of this celebration, the ACA Foundation is sponsoring a contest that asks graduate students and new professionals to write a brief essay on what they think the future of the profession will encompass.

There will be five prizes in each of three categories (masters level students, doctoral level students, and new professionals who have graduated since 2009). And, included in the grand prize will be the opportunity to sit on a panel at the ACA Annual Conference next March in Cincinnati that will include some of the profession's luminaries.

Consider participating in this contest and you may win:

• ACA Annual Conference and Expo registration
• Participating on a panel that includes counseling luminaries at the ACA Annual Conference
• Your essay printed in Counseling Today
• ACA membership
• Recognition by your peers and those who have been trailblazers in the profession
• And, numerous other prizes

Entering is simple! Read over the following questions, choose one, and then provide your answer in an essay not to exceed 750 words. You must submit your essay by October 1, 2012 at 11:59 pm and it is to be sent to: ACAF@counseling.org. No hard copy essays will be considered — we are going green!

Here are the questions:

• How will professional counseling be impacted by an increasingly diverse population?
• What lessons from counseling pioneers will still be applicable in working with students and clients sixty years from today?
• How will technology impact the way in which professional counselors practice 25 years from now?
• With changes in societal demographics, what do professional counselors need now in order to be adequately trained and prepared in working with various populations?
• What one issue will have the greatest impact on tomorrow’s professional counselor?

Remember, select only one question, submit an essay with your answer to the question (not to exceed 750 words) to ACAF@counseling.org by October 1, 2012 at 11:59 pm. You will be entering by providing your essay along with:

Your Name
Mailing Address
Phone Number
E-mail Address
ACA Membership Number
Category in which you are entering (masters level, doctoral level, new professional)

Best of luck. Should you have any questions, please e-mail us at: ACAF@counseling.org (the same address you will use to submit your essay).