Ursinus College counselor earns statewide recognition
The Pennsylvania Association for College Admission Counseling (PACAC) recently bestowed its highest honor to an Ursinus College admissions counselor.
Ursinus’ executive associate director of admissions Sue Thomas received the Delwin K. Gustafson Award at a June 29 PACAC awards banquet for her service to admissions professionals, students, and the PACAC association.
Thomas, of Green Lane, has worked at Ursinus College for 20 years and worked in the Perkiomen School as an admissions counselor for eight years. Prior to her work as an admissions counselor she served as a high school social studies teacher at Perkiomen Valley High School for eight years.
Thomas said she decided to change her career track as a form of personal growth. “I love working with students and seeing them grow, change and develop over time. I enjoyed the field of education, but I wanted to try working in another capacity,” she said.
As an admissions office manager, Thomas directs the college admissions process, sets up college courses for local, high-achieving high school students at Ursinus, and coordinates a partnership with Drexel University College of Medicine’s early assurance pre-medical program to assure up to six graduate spots to students entering the freshman class per year.
“I love it at Ursinus because it is a high-caliber school with a friendly atmosphere. I enjoy working with the students here because they are very bright and love being engaged in learning,” she said.
Thomas, a 20-year member of PACAC, has served on the organization’s membership committee, was co-chair of the college fair committee, was chair of the development committee and was president from 2001 to 2002.
She was not even aware of her nomination until she was named the winner at the awards banquet held at Split Rock Resort in the Poconos.
“I was very surprised and honored,” she said.
According to Thomas, peer competition is fierce for seniors applying to colleges. She said Ursinus typically receives over 6,000 applications each year for the college’s 470 freshman class spots. Currently, Thomas and her colleagues are working on the admissions process for the 2010-2011 school year.
Her advice to students is to be themselves and to visit the schools that interested them.
“Don’t write down what you think colleges are looking for on applications. Colleges are interested in people who have been successful in the classroom and put emphasis on day-to-day rigor rather than standardized tests,” she said.
PACAC, a professional organization of college admissions and high school counselors, began recognizing PACAC members for their leadership and dedicated service with the award in 1982.
Karen Mason, PACAC president and Germantown Academy’s associate director of guidance, said the award is provided to an individual who has had an impact on the admissions profession and has put the profession before themselves.
The award winner was selected by a committee from a pool of written nominations. Until 1999 the award was called the Pennsylvania Association of Secondary School and College Admission Counseling recognition award. In 2000 it was renamed after Delwin K. Gustafson, a director of admissions at Gettysburg College and former PACAC president.
The organization offers mentoring services to younger members, networking opportunities, professional development for college and high school counselors, sponsors college fairs throughout the state and lobbies for educational funding in Harrisburg.
“We are an organization that wants to encourage access for all students to higher educational opportunities,” Mason said. “We are working to help make higher education obtainable and affordable to students.”
Mason said Thomas received the award because she has served in variety of positions in PACAC, filled in as a committee chair, helped with fundraising and has helped to carry out the overall mission of the organization.
“She has continued to be involved and has helped out a number of times when the organization was stuck. She is very willing to fill in and help when she is needed and it is great having someone in the association with all of those years of experience,” Mason said.
Ursinus’ executive associate director of admissions Sue Thomas received the Delwin K. Gustafson Award at a June 29 PACAC awards banquet for her service to admissions professionals, students, and the PACAC association.
Thomas, of Green Lane, has worked at Ursinus College for 20 years and worked in the Perkiomen School as an admissions counselor for eight years. Prior to her work as an admissions counselor she served as a high school social studies teacher at Perkiomen Valley High School for eight years.
Thomas said she decided to change her career track as a form of personal growth. “I love working with students and seeing them grow, change and develop over time. I enjoyed the field of education, but I wanted to try working in another capacity,” she said.
As an admissions office manager, Thomas directs the college admissions process, sets up college courses for local, high-achieving high school students at Ursinus, and coordinates a partnership with Drexel University College of Medicine’s early assurance pre-medical program to assure up to six graduate spots to students entering the freshman class per year.
“I love it at Ursinus because it is a high-caliber school with a friendly atmosphere. I enjoy working with the students here because they are very bright and love being engaged in learning,” she said.
Thomas, a 20-year member of PACAC, has served on the organization’s membership committee, was co-chair of the college fair committee, was chair of the development committee and was president from 2001 to 2002.
She was not even aware of her nomination until she was named the winner at the awards banquet held at Split Rock Resort in the Poconos.
“I was very surprised and honored,” she said.
According to Thomas, peer competition is fierce for seniors applying to colleges. She said Ursinus typically receives over 6,000 applications each year for the college’s 470 freshman class spots. Currently, Thomas and her colleagues are working on the admissions process for the 2010-2011 school year.
Her advice to students is to be themselves and to visit the schools that interested them.
“Don’t write down what you think colleges are looking for on applications. Colleges are interested in people who have been successful in the classroom and put emphasis on day-to-day rigor rather than standardized tests,” she said.
PACAC, a professional organization of college admissions and high school counselors, began recognizing PACAC members for their leadership and dedicated service with the award in 1982.
Karen Mason, PACAC president and Germantown Academy’s associate director of guidance, said the award is provided to an individual who has had an impact on the admissions profession and has put the profession before themselves.
The award winner was selected by a committee from a pool of written nominations. Until 1999 the award was called the Pennsylvania Association of Secondary School and College Admission Counseling recognition award. In 2000 it was renamed after Delwin K. Gustafson, a director of admissions at Gettysburg College and former PACAC president.
The organization offers mentoring services to younger members, networking opportunities, professional development for college and high school counselors, sponsors college fairs throughout the state and lobbies for educational funding in Harrisburg.
“We are an organization that wants to encourage access for all students to higher educational opportunities,” Mason said. “We are working to help make higher education obtainable and affordable to students.”
Mason said Thomas received the award because she has served in variety of positions in PACAC, filled in as a committee chair, helped with fundraising and has helped to carry out the overall mission of the organization.
“She has continued to be involved and has helped out a number of times when the organization was stuck. She is very willing to fill in and help when she is needed and it is great having someone in the association with all of those years of experience,” Mason said.
