Message from the NJACAC President
Haaaay NJACAC!
As we approach the end of another year, it is with immense gratitude that I extend my heartfelt thanks to each and every one of you who has contributed to the success of our association. Your dedication to the mission of the NJACAC is the driving force behind our shared commitment to support students and their families as they pursue access to higher education.
NJACAC24 Conference
The NJACAC Conference will take place on May 20-21, 2024 at Harrah’s in Atlantic City. I am pleased to announce that the theme is…drum roll…“Crossroads of Counseling.” In a profession that is constantly evolving, this theme serves as a reminder that the choices we make at the crossroads of counseling will have a profound impact on our collective future. Whether it’s implementing the Better FAFSA, embracing technological advancements or navigating the landscape post the SCOTUS decision on race conscious admission, I look forward to exploring this theme together, exchanging ideas, and learning from one another. Feel free to reach out to Ryan DePuy, our President-Elect at presidentelect@njacac.org if you have any questions or are interested in serving on the conference committee.
Fiscal Year 2024 Budget:
The Fiscal Oversight Committee (FOC) and Executive Committee have approved our 2024 operating budget of just over $460,000. The FOC worked diligently to cut costs, where possible, while still making investments in new and existing programs.
Membership
If you have not done so already, please CLICK HERE to join or renew your membership. If you have not yet logged into your portal, you can do so by CLICKING HERE. If your organization has an institutional membership, please be sure to add members to your roster as this will generate individual accounts. If you have any questions on this process, please review our STEP BY STEP GUIDE. As always, you can reach out to me or our membership chairs at membership@njacac.org for support.
NACAC Board Service
If you are interested in learning more about NACAC Board service or discussing additional ways you can become more involved at the national level, please reach out to our NACAC Board Liaison, Chris Loo at christine.loo@sbs.org. From personal experience, engagement with NACAC is both personally and professionally rewarding and I encourage you to look into all the great opportunities that exist.
Strategic Plan Update
On January 20th, our Executive Board will be convening to finalize our new 3 year Strategic Plan. This process began at our Summer retreat in August and I look forward to sharing the plan with you in the coming months.
Spring College Fairs
College can now CLICK HERE to register for any of our NJACAC Spring Regional College Fairs. Also, as High Schools consider their Spring Fair dates, please refer to our COLLEGE FAIR LIST to ensure yours does not conflict with another fair. Having sat in on several discussions with admission professionals, they truly appreciate this consideration and not having to make difficult decisions about where to deploy their resources.
CONGRATULATIONS ARE IN ORDER
You may have noticed that I like to use these monthly addresses to shout out some of the great work of our members! Equally important is the recognition that folks are experiencing major life milestones and joyous moments. Whether the birth of a child, marriage, a promotion, or retirement, please know that your NJACAC community sees you and shares in your happiness. I invite you all to email me directly to share some good news that you would like to share with our association (or just with me, I love hearing from folks).
While I know this is not even close to a complete list of names to recognize, I want to send congratulations to CARLOS CANO, CASI KOVAR, NIKI MENDRINOS, LAURIE SIEMINSKI, SAMM WILENSKY, and JENNA YOUNT.
A point of personal privilege, I want to acknowledge the retirement of my supervisor, TALIN HOVSEPIAN. After more than 25 years serving the Hackensack Public Schools, she is moving on to other adventures and will be missed by our department.
ATTITUDE OF GRATITUDE
I want to express my sincere appreciation to the members of the Executive Board and Executive Committee for their efforts in shaping the future of our organization. Your hard work is a testament to your commitment to the growth and sustainability of the NJACAC. Your leadership is pivotal in ensuring that we continue to thrive as an association, providing invaluable support to our members and fostering a collaborative community.
Thank you CHRIS HOFFMAN, who has been chairing an Ad-Hoc Committee on revising our website. I think you will all be pleasantly surprised in the coming months with some major announcements and enhancements.
Thank you to the good folks at the New Jersey Higher Education Student Assistance Authority (HESAA) for partnering with us to provide two virtual workshops on the upcoming changes to FAFSA.
Finally, thank you to ALL OF OUR MEMBERS. Admittedly, I do not know everyone personally, but I hear so many stories, read so many updates, and see so many Facebook, Instagram and Linkedin posts to know the great work you do day in and day out. Your passion for the field of college admission counseling has undoubtedly made a positive impact on the lives of countless students.
As we stand at the threshold of a new year, I encourage you to take a few moments of silent, peaceful reflection (I know these are hard to come by) and consider one thing you are passionate about and that feeds your spirit. Hold on to that feeling! Take some time to disconnect and recharge. I assure you that there will always be a new challenge to face or a new problem to solve, so for today, relish in your accomplishments and know that you matter today and every day!!
In gratitude,
Randy Stamm
School Counselor, Hackensack High School
NJACAC President (23-24)