Bellevue University Student Honored by American Counseling Association
Bellevue University graduate student David Schnabel, MEd, earned national recognition from the American Counseling Association (ACA) for outstanding student scholarship. Schnabel received Honorable Mention in a competitive national essay competition highlighting excellence among future school counselors.
Key Facts
- Student: David Schnabel, MEd
- Recognition: Honorable Mention, Future School Counselors Essay Competition
- Awarding Organization: American Counseling Association (ACA)
- Awards Presentation: 2026 ACA Conference & Expo
National Recognition for Emerging Counseling Professionals
Each year, the American Counseling Association (ACA) recognizes excellence across the counseling profession through its national awards and honors program. The program highlights professionals, educators, researchers, and students whose work demonstrates strong scholarship, ethical awareness, and forward-thinking perspectives. ACA presented its 2026 awards during the annual ACA Conference & Expo in Columbus, Ohio.
Bellevue University Student Earns ACA Honor
Among this year’s student honorees is Bellevue University student David Schnabel, who earned Honorable Mention in the ACA’s Future School Counselors Essay Competition. The nationally competitive program recognizes graduate students whose work reflects academic excellence and professional insight.
“As soon as I saw the prompt around social-emotional learning, I lit up—it’s something I’ve spent a lot of time thinking about and working with directly,” said Schnabel. “I was able to draw on both hands-on experience and other related work I’ve done, which aligned really well with what the prompt was asking for. I also took a few risks by being a bit more vulnerable and adding some humor, so it was really encouraging to hear that it resonated and was well received by the committee.”
Essay Recognized for Relevance and Practical Insight
The Future School Counselors Essay Competition challenges graduate students to examine how school counselors can help students address personal and social issues that influence academic success while demonstrating measurable effectiveness. Schnabel’s essay stood out for its practical focus, thoughtful analysis, and timely relevance to today’s school environments, earning recognition among entries from graduate students nationwide.
Founded in 1966, Bellevue University is a non-profit university with more than 70,000 graduates worldwide. The University is a recognized national leader in preparing students for lifelong success with career-relevant knowledge and skills, while making college affordable. Routinely ranked among the nation’s top military and accessible institutions, the University serves residential students at its main campus in Bellevue, Nebraska, and everywhere online with more than 85 degree programs uniquely designed for working adults. The University is accredited by The Higher Learning Commission (hlcommission.org).