Scholar Program

The Scholar Mentor Program partners each scholar with an International ACAC member to provide year-long support and professional mentorship. This program, which won a NACAC Rising Star Award in 2016, will allow scholars to put into practice new knowledge, skills, and best practices for their students, communities, and regions.

Since the program's inception, your contributions have supported counselors in the countries highlighted on the map below.

Click on the links above the columns to read each year's scholar biographies.

“When you empower a counselor, you’ve empowered a generation.”

Watch the video testimonial to hear what former Scholars Samuel Birondwa and Moses Illunga have to say about the Scholar Program, and read about additional benefits in the testimonials below.

New Relationships with Admissions Officers

"The great thing is that now my students have a wide range of universities to choose from. I came across all of these schools when I attended the University Fair. I am now working with admissions counselors I met. It makes a big difference."

- Flavia Murengezi, Green Hills Academy, Rwanda

An Increase in Applications Overseas

"Before the conference, my years as a counselor were quite frustrating. I've always wanted to reach out to my students but I found myself confined by certain limits. Before this program, students would come to me for advice but I sent them to the Embassy due to lack of information. However, my training has given me a groundwork to give more accurate and precise information to my students. Our numbers applying overseas have increased."

- Mercy Nwogbo, Federal Government Academy, Nigeria

Improved Advocacy for Students

"I have developed a strong working relationship with International ACAC members. This network of resources is already helping me to better serve my students as they select the right university or college for their growth as a global citizen. I have also learned which parts of our students' lives to highlight in their recommendation letters. While reading the case studies provided at the conference, I learnt what a comprehensive recommendation should include. I am already finding ways of sharing this with other members of Loyola's career guidance team as well as subject teachers whom our students may ask for recommendations."

- Columba Thadey, Loyola High School, Tanzania

Expanded Opportunities

Through International ACAC, I gained not only opportunities but also friendships and professional connections with colleagues who are always ready to support and share their experiences. Since returning to Kazakhstan, I have shared the knowledge and energy gained from the International ACAC conference with my colleagues, and we are excited to attend the International ACAC conference in Boston in the summer of 2025.

Thanks to the networking opportunities from the conference in Canada, I am now receiving more invitations to events and fly-in tours in different countries, further expanding my professional horizon. I am deeply grateful to International ACAC for these opportunities and experiences. It is a great honor for me to serve as an ambassador for such a wonderful community as International ACAC, sharing its values and knowledge within my own community here in Kazakhstan.

- Zhannura Saidmuratova, Nazarbayev Intellectual School of Physics and Mathematics in Almaty, Kazakhstan