Scholarship for Professionals and Students

CCDA awards scholarships to a limited number of professionals in career development who do not have access to funds for professional development or to students enrolled in at least 6 credits in a program of study related to career development and who plan to pursue a career in the field.

Scholarship Process 
Those interested in applying can submit the CCDA Scholarship Application, which typically goes live in the spring of each year.  A committee of Board members will select the recipients and they will be notified in late March in time to register for the Spring Training. If you have questions, please contact the CCDA Membership & Scholarship Chair.

Rich Feller Leadership Award

2024 Recipient: Marie Zimenoff

Marie Zimenoff, 2024 Rich Feller Leadership Award Winner holds her awardEstablished by the Colorado Career Development Association in 2007, this annual award honors Rich Feller for his outstanding dedication and service to the career development profession in the local, national and international arenas. Leading by example in his service to others, Rich has educated and mentored students and professionals for many years, and has also made significant contributions to the research and writing in his field. This award recognizes Rich's inspiring acts of dedicated service along with the warmth, compassion, unlimited drive and integrity with which they were rendered.

The recipient of this award will be recognized for making valuable contributions to the career development field and emulating Rich Feller’s service to others as mentor and colleague.

Past recipients include:

2023: Larry Dutmer

2022: Andrea Wieland

2021: Andrea Karapas

2019: Ann Herrmann & Jackie Peila-Shuster

2018: Cori Shaff

2017: Wendy Winter-Searcy

2016: Leann Morgan

2015: Bev Kratzer 

2014: Linda Sollars

2013: Larry Gabbard

2012: Sandra Rosewell

2011: Gordon Gray

2010: Dan Macy

2009: Leslie Cancilla

2008: Rich Feller

Diversity Initiative Award

2024 Recipient: Emily Frank

Emily Frank, 2024 Diversity Initiative Award WinnerThe Diversity Initiative Award promotes and recognizes an individual or team who through their initiatives and commitment, have demonstrated a high degree of cultural responsiveness and inclusive practices within the domain of career-related activities. 

The criteria for this award is based on NCDA’s Diversity Initiative Award. Recipients of the Diversity Initiative Award have:

  • Significantly enhanced our understanding of and appreciation of the complex career development needs of diverse populations and historically marginalized groups.
  • Contributed to the professional growth of culturally competent and sensitive career counselors able to demonstrate equitable and inclusive practices.
  • Provided inclusive mentorship for graduate students and professionals from historically marginalized groups in the field of career counseling.
  • Successfully advocated for systemic changes that lead to the elimination or reduction of barriers impacting the career development of diverse and/or historically marginalized individuals.


Past recipients include:

2023: Lauren K Jones

2022: Kyle Inselman

2021: Career Services Cultural Humility Team at CU Boulder (April Abernathy, Jasmine Evans, and Rae Stout)

Colorado Career Development Association


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