CLEVELAND, Miss. — The Mississippi Counseling Association has named Delta State University’s Counselor Education Program its 2026 College Counseling Program of the Year.
The award recognizes the program’s work preparing future counselors and its contributions to the counseling profession. The program was selected following a nomination and review by the association’s awards committee.
“We are deeply honored to receive this recognition from the Mississippi Counseling Association,” said Dr. Mary Bess Pannel, associate professor and program coordinator of counselor education at Delta State. “This award reflects the hard work of our faculty, students, alumni and community partners who are committed to advancing the counseling profession and improving the lives of those we serve.”
Delta State has appeared in this award category before. MCA listed the university as its College Counseling Program recipient for the 2022-23 awards cycle. The category is part of the association’s longstanding annual awards program, which recognizes counseling programs, individual counselors and contributors to the profession.
MCA is a state branch of the American Counseling Association. It supports counselors across Mississippi through professional development, advocacy and work to advance counseling practice.
“We are proud of the impact our graduates make throughout the state and remain committed to preparing counselors who lead with compassion, integrity, and professional excellence,” Pannel said.
For more information about the Counselor Education Program at Delta State, visit https://live-deltastate.pantheonsite.io/nursing-health-sciences/school-of-nursing/.
