The William S. Neal Award was named for a beloved colleague who made a career commitment to the field of college counseling through his work with students as Dean of Admissions at Elmira College and as a long time active member of NEACAC. The award is given to a deserving high school or college professional with five to ten years experience in the college counseling field exemplifying the commitment that Bill Neal represented to both students and the profession. Active involvement with NEACAC has been a hallmark for candidates who have been chosen for this award. A list of criteria has been developed for this honor and includes the following:

• Has at least three and no more than ten years of experience in college admission counseling.
• Embodies the Human Relations Committee Mission Statement.
• Exercises a commitment to institutional diversity, above and beyond what their job description may entail.
• Exemplifies strong leadership/management qualities.
• Engages in civic, community, or professional development activities.

This year's award was presented to Wanda Suriel, Director of Admission, Regis College, Weston, MA.