Inaugural Counselor of the Year Award Recipient Announced
ANN ARBOR, MI, June 7, 2018 – The Joyce Ivy Foundation recently announced the creation of the Joyce Ivy Foundation Counselor of the Year Award and named its inaugural recipient: Ann Bartus, College and Career Center Director of West Bloomfield High School in Michigan.
“Through both the Summer Scholars selection process and JCAS, the Foundation has interacted with some truly extraordinary counselors over the years,” said Allison Jegla, Vice President for Program Development at the Joyce Ivy Foundation. “In seeking a way to recognize these professionals, the JCAS Planning Committee designed an award that is driven by student and peer nominations.”
Based on the mission of the Joyce Ivy Foundation, the Counselor of the Year Award recognizes a counselor or advocate at a high school/community-based organization who:
- demonstrates tremendous impact daily and who goes above and beyond for his or her students
- is committed to introducing young women to new ideas
- supports young women in their pursuit of higher education and inspires them to dream big
This year’s honoree, Ann Bartus, MA, is starting her 18th year of English instruction and 7th year of college advising. Bartus teaches AP Language and Composition and directs the WBHS College and Career Center. She was certified at the Harvard Summer Institute on College Admissions and the UCLA College Counseling Certificate Program. She has attended conferences on college admissions at several campuses including Amherst, Vanderbilt, Bowdoin, Colby, Smith, Mt. Holyoke, Wellesley, Babson, Harvard, Stanford, the University of Michigan, and the University of California. Bartus evaluates scholarship essays for the Maltz Museum of Jewish Heritage and is a member of the Michigan Association for College Admission Counseling (MACAC), the National Association for College Admission Counseling (NACAC), and the Higher Education Consultants Association (HECA). She is also a National Board Certified Teacher.
“This award means a great deal to me,” said Bartus. “The student nomination is incredibly humbling, and recognition from the Joyce Ivy Foundation means everything. I have attended the Symposium for several years, and always leave with new ideas to implement, directly from admissions representatives. Because of Joyce Ivy, several of our students have had life-altering summer experiences, and I have learned how to direct them toward these opportunities. The Foundation gives counselors tools to empower young women.”
“We are thrilled that Ann Bartus is our inaugural Counselor of the Year award recipient,” said Jegla. “She champions the type of impact that is at the heart of the Joyce Ivy Foundation. As her student nominator explained, Bartus cares deeply about students, and she helps them navigate the often overwhelming world of college admissions to achieve the best fit. We are grateful for her participation in our programs, and we are proud to have her as part of the Joyce Ivy family.”
Bartus was honored during an award ceremony at the Joyce Ivy College Admissions Symposium on Friday, May 11.
