John A. "Jack" Blackburn Award

Photo of Jack Blackburn by Dan Addison

The John A. "Jack" Blackburn Award for Ethics in College Admission was established by the Potomac and Chesapeake Association for College Admission Counseling (PCACAC) in 2010 to honor the late Jack Blackburn, long-time Dean of Admission at the University of Virginia. Throughout his career, Jack served as an admirable role model promoting the highest ethical standards, integrity in our profession and equity in access to higher education. This award recognizes a member of our profession who exemplifies the qualities that made Jack Blackburn revered by his peers. 

Selection Process

• Commitment to the high ethical standards of college admission through sustained active involvement in  the profession;
• Dedication to promoting equal access to higher education for all students.

Membership in PCACAC is not a criterion for selection but consideration will be given to professionals in the PCACAC region.

The recipient is honored with an engraved plaque and, for one year, will keep the Blackburn Award, a perpetual plaque engraved and embossed with the PCACAC logo listing the names of all recipients.

The selection committee is comprised of members of the PCACAC Past Presidents Committee.  For questions or additional information, contact Mike Carter, Chair of the Past Presidents' Committee. 

In Recognition of our 2024 Award Winner

Kevin Terry
Director of School Counseling
Rock Ridge High School

Award presented by Jayne Fonash, Past President

In the spirit of Jack Blackburn, Kevin Terry has paved the way for access to higher education free of financial barriers for thousands of underrepresented and low-income high school students in Loudoun County Virginia.  He has been doing this quietly since the early 1990’s, and his mission has followed him from Broad Run High School to Potomac Falls High School, Farmwell Station Middle School, Dominion High School and Rock Ridge High School.  Kevin is calm, logical, kind, wicked-smart, and has always been focused on a mission of creating opportunity for students.

Kevin, who is the School Counseling Director at Rock Ridge High School, has always focused on creating a college going culture, particularly for our most underrepresented students. In 2015, Kevin was continuing to question the barrier of cost that was preventing under-served and economically disadvantaged students from enrolling in DE courses through the local community college.  While dual enrollment options had been available for many years, existing programs required parents to pay tuition up front and receive reimbursement later, thus precluding participation among low-income students and reducing participation.  

Read the entire tribute to Kevin Terry.

 PRIOR RECIPIENTS:

2023:  David Hawkins, Chief Education and Policy Officer, National Association for College Admission Counseling (VA)

2022:  Sue Rexford, Director of College Guidance, Charles E. Smith Jewish Day School (MD)

2021:  Leonard Satterwhite, Senior Associate Dean of Admissions, Washington and Lee University (VA)

2020:  Joyce E. Smith, NACAC CEO (Retired 2020)

2019:  Evelyn Boyd White, Retired School Counseling Coordinator, Thomas Dale High School (VA)

2018:  Todd Rinehart, Vice Chancellor of Enrollment Management, University of Denver (CO)

2017:  Marty Wilder, Chief of Staff (Retired), University of Mary Washington (VA)

2016:  Dave Kraus, Director of Admission, Davidson College (NC)

2015:  Mildred Johnson, Associate Vice Provost for Enrollment Management & Director of Undergraduate Admissions, Virginia Tech (VA)

2014:  James W. Jump, Academic Dean and Director of Guidance, St. Christopher's School (VA)

2013: Valerie H. Gregory, Associate Dean of Admissions and Outreach, University of Virginia (VA)

2012: Lou Hirsh, Retired Director of Admissions, University of Delaware (DE)

2011: Shirley Bloomquist, Independent Counselor (VA)