Asbury Seminary student Melissa Wagner was recently awarded the Kentucky Counseling Association (KCA) summer scholarship for 2023. Recipients of this scholarship receive a tuition waiver from their college or university for one summer class. In addition, recipients receive a complimentary year of membership in KCA and a $200 stipend from KCA for books, materials and expenses. Criteria for selecting the awardees include a commitment to professional counseling, a commitment to serving in Kentucky, and participation in the KCA.

Melissa says, “I have been employed during most of seminary, but that means my attention is divided. I want to be able to become the best counselor I can be, so I am grateful that this scholarship will allow me to cut back on my hours at work so I can devote more attention to my studies in the counseling program, especially as I am beginning the internship phase of my degree.” Wagner is pursuing a Master of Arts in Mental Health Counseling degree from Asbury Seminary and expects to graduate in Spring of 2024. This summer, she plans to take “Counseling Practicum.”

Dr. Jacqueline Smith, Dean of the School of Counseling at Asbury Seminary, states, “The faculty in the School of Counseling at Asbury Theological seminary are pleased to see the Kentucky Counseling Association recognize Melissa’s academic excellence and commitment to the counseling profession acknowledged through the KCA’s Summer Scholarship program. Melissa is a very conscientious student who takes her studies seriously. This scholarship will support her continued professional growth and clinical competency. We are very proud of her developing counselor identity and the future clinical counselor she will be within the Commonwealth.”

KCA is the state branch of the American Counseling Association and is an organization of counseling professionals who work in educational, health care, residential, private practice, community agency, government, business and industry settings.