The Wyoming Counseling Association (WCA) presented the following awards at its Fall 2017 conference in Cody:

Julie Laib of Cody, WY, received the Outstanding Service Award for her service and commitment to the counseling field, the Wyoming Counseling Association, and the state of Wyoming. Laib, who has served as WCA Treasurer under eight presidents has been the back bone of WCA. She has officially been the Treasurer, but at times she has been the conference organizer, the president behind the president, the membership drive committee, the CEU keeper, and the list of duties she has picked up when needed is endless. Julie’s commitment and integrity is unsurpassed by any other Executive Board Member past or present. Our Association owes Julie a debt of gratitude we will never be able to repay.

Past President Candise Leininger said, “It has been an honor to serve on the Executive Board with Julie these past 4 years and I personally want to thank her for all that she has done for myself, WCA, and all the counselors in this state. Thank you, Julie, for your hard work and dedication to Wyoming Counseling Association!”

 

Karen Hayhurst of Cody, WY, earned Lifetime Achievement recognition. Hayhurst started her career as an office skills teacher, then an elementary teacher. For many years she was a school counselor in Wheatland, Gillette and most recently in Cody. She mentored and inspired many school counselors during her career, and even in retirement she continued to work with the American School Counseling Association to provide training. Karen stressed the importance of all counselors in the state working together, regardless of their work environment. She served as WCA president for two terms and secretary for several terms.

 

Wyoming Equality was recognized for its efforts in promoting mental health services in Wyoming and received the Garth Shanklin Exemplary Practices Award. Wyoming Equality is a statewide organization seeks to enhance the lives of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people in the Equality State by providing: Education, Information, Activities, Support, a Networking System, and an Advocacy System for people impacted by gender and sexual orientation issues. Wyoming Equality has taken the lead in advocating legislation which supports nondiscrimination and marriage equality. It has also sponsored workshops on suicide prevention and supporting LGBT youth.