Contact: Sammy McDavid
STARKVILLE, Miss.--Gary O. "Neil" Parker of Hattiesburg is receiving the 2006 Counselor of the Year Award from a prominent Mississippi State student leadership group.
The Forest County Agricultural High School administrator is being honored by the university's Ottilie Schillig Leadership Scholars Society, which represents some of the top students at the land-grant institution. A $500 check accompanies his award.
Society members created the homage in 1999 to recognize "the significant contributions of high school counselors to the academic progress of their students."
In addition to his role as a nationally certified counselor and psychometrics coordinator, Parker is the Brooklyn-based school's tennis and dance team coach, cheerleader sponsor and statistician for the basketball and baseball teams.
He is a William Carey College graduate who went on to complete a master's degree at MSU.
Parker previously was employed at Oak Grove High School, where he received master teacher and teacher of the year awards, as well as recognition as Mississippi's cheerleading coach-of-the-year and one to the Top Three Volunteers of the Year.
Since coming to FCAHS, he has enhanced students' likelihood for college scholarships by reorganizing counseling center operations to provide year-round assessments. He also has received approval to restructure the grading system so students will be more academically competitive.
NEWS EDITORS/DIRECTORS: Mr. Parker was unable to attend the recent scholars' recognition ceremony at MSU. His Schillig High School Counselor of the Year Award is scheduled to be presented by a university official at an FCAHS program in early May.