Observations all along the line - Kimball & the Southern Panhandle First
Observations all along the line - Kimball & the Southern Panhandle First
The Nebraska State College System (NSCS) has named Chauncey Pedersen the 2016 NSCS Counseling Excellence Award recipient. Pedersen, who has been the guidance counselor at Kimball Jr/Sr High School since 2008, also spends time coaching girls' basketball at Kimball. Pedersen worked at Mitchell, Neb. as an elementary teacher and coach for football and girls' basketball prior to taking the counseling position at Kimball.
The Counseling Excellence Award was created to honor high school guidance counselors for exemplary service and commitment to students. Students at Chadron, Peru and Wayne State Colleges have the opportunity to nominate high school counselors for the award. Pedersen was honored at the annual Nebraska School Counselors' Academy held in Kearney, Neb. in early November.
NSCS Vice Chancellor Korinne Tande shared with the audience that Pedersen was recommended by students at Chadron State College who said that Pedersen was "an amazing counselor who was a huge help." Another said, "My counselor went above and beyond to help me get the information about college, especially about Chadron." While another said, "My counselor was the greatest."
On behalf of the NSCS Board of Trustees, Lisa Stein, director of admissions at Chadron State College, presented Pedersen with a thank you gift and a plaque commemorating the honor. Stein also shared with the audience that Pedersen earned two degrees from Chadron State: a bachelor of arts in elementary education and a master of education in school counseling.
While at the podium, Pedersen thanked the NSCS and his colleagues for the recognition. Pedersen said, "Getting this award really means a lot to me, especially when you think about all the great counselors that are out there and also deserving of this award. It is a great feeling knowing that you are appreciated and were able to help those students when they were in high school getting ready to make that big jump for the next chapter in their lives." Pedersen then held his plaque in the air and said, "We do it for the kids."
Pedersen lives in Kimball with his wife, Stephanie, where they are the parents of three children: Cierra (23), Austyn (22) and Garrett (17). In his free time, Pedersen likes fishing, camping and riding his Harley.
The Nebraska State College System serves over 9,000 students through three geographically diverse institutions. Combined, the three Colleges offer more than 200 degree, certificate and pre-professional programs that are accessible on the campuses, via the Internet and in several locations from around the state. With more than 270 credentialed faculty members and 50,000 successful graduates, the Nebraska State College System provides significant human and intellectual capital that contributes to the current and future strength of the State of Nebraska.