2024: Lennis Echterling
Lennis Echterling is a longtime counseling professor and former director at James Madison University with more than 30 years of experience advancing resilience in the wake of crises worldwide. He has led impactful, play-based therapeutic support for military families and is a widely recognized author and award-winning leader in the counseling field.
“Echterling’s long-standing service to the Virginia Counselors Association, his dedicated commitment to educating and training pre-service and in-service counselors, and his personal qualities demonstrate the qualities lived by John Cook. … The world is more just, and more kind because Lennie is walking with us,” Echterling’s nominator Anne Stewart, said.
2023: Ellissia Price-Fagan
Ellissia Price-Fagin is a transformative leader in the counseling community whose vision and dedication revitalized the Northern Virginia Counselors Association. A former school counselor and ongoing board leader, she has guided the chapter’s growth, strengthened its programming, and inspired a new generation of diverse leaders through mentorship, collaboration and unwavering commitment to service.
“To know Ellissia is to know a giant in our counseling field. To work with her is to work with the hardest working, dedicated and passionate being ever. To call her friend is to friend a living saint. Ellissia is the current’s version of NVCA godmother. […] When we look back at the legacy that Dr. John Cook shared with us, we think of no other recipient than Ellissia Price-Fagen,” said Willeta Wilson, NVCA president; Roberto C. Martinez, NVCA past president; and Margarita Martinez, NVCA president-elect, Price-Fagan’s nominators.
2022: Regina Meredith
Regina Meredith is a distinguished school counselor and leader whose decades-long career has shaped students, schools and the counseling profession across Virginia. Known for her innovative programs, community partnerships and deep commitment to mentorship, she has advanced student support systems while inspiring and guiding generations of counselors through her leadership and service.
“Ms. Meredith embodies the tenets selflessness, compassion, advocacy and justice which encompass the John R. Cook Award. Some people are destined to be counselors and their mark will be felt for a lifetime – this is true for Ms. Meredith. She […] truly cares for the welfare of others, her community and the counseling profession. As a result of her mentorship, she has empowered generations of counselors and continues to support the valuable work of professional counselors,” said Callie Cook, past-president, historian and board advisor for the Roanoke Area Counselors Association, who presented Meredith’s remarks at the annual VCAF convention.
2021: Laconda Fanning
LaConda Fanning is an accomplished clinical psychologist, educator and leader whose work in mentorship, multicultural advocacy and child-focused therapeutic innovation has made a lasting impact on the counseling profession. Through her leadership within the Virginia Counselors Association and her commitment to developing future clinicians, she has advanced both equity and excellence in counseling practice.
“During the 2021 Leadership Academy planning, she had this gentle assertiveness related to cultural humility that was powerful. To later watch her deliver the presentation and be ‘in her presence’ for the first time as an attendee was powerful. I felt her genuine nature and leadership in those moments,” said one of her nominators of Fanning’s work with the VCA leadership academy.” Rick Gressard, 2020 John Cook Award recipient, delivered convention remarks in support of Fanning.
2020: Rick Gressard
Charles “Rick” Gressard is a globally respected counselor educator and leader whose decades of work in addiction counseling, ethics and credentialing have shaped the profession worldwide. A longtime professor at William & Mary and former leader of major accrediting and certification bodies, he is known for advancing high standards in counselor education and for his enduring impact as a mentor and teacher.
“Rick’s advice sticks and I find myself repeating our conversations. His words are relevant; timeless even … Much like Dr. Cook, Rick has a deep love for and commitment to this profession, the people who are drawn to it, and all of those it serves,” said a former student and longtime friend. Linda Grubba, 2019 John Cook Award Recipient, delivered Gressard’s convention remarks.