Alison Bollander, the career counselor at Mechanicsville High School (MHS), has been named one of the Counselors of the Year by the Potomac and Chesapeake Association for College Admission Counseling (PCACAC).
The recognition celebrates those who go above and beyond in their work with students, highlighting impact in the admissions process, advocacy for students and colleagues, innovation in the industry, and more. Mrs. Bollander received the PCACAC award from the region that includes counselors in Delaware, Washington, D.C, Maryland, Virginia, and West Virginia.
“I have received a tremendous amount of support throughout my counseling career. I do not do this work alone and am grateful for all the relationships that have been created along the way,” said Mrs. Bollander. “School counseling is a collective effort, and I want to send a shout out to the MHS Counseling Department, Karla Allen, and the entire career counseling team for all they do for students each and every day!”
This marks the third consecutive year that a Hanover County Public Schools (HCPS) career counselor has earned this distinction. Shannon Edwards, formerly of Atlee High School, was named one of the PCACAC’s 2023 Counselors of the Year while Jennifer Melton of Hanover High School was named one of the PCACAC’s 2024 Counselors of the Year.
“Alison oversees scholarships, academic and career planning, awards programs, career lessons, and more within her community. After setting a goal to expand student access to resources, she successfully doubled the number of scholarship awards,” said Karla Allen, Karla Allen, HCPS Coordinator of Counseling Services. “Alison is a true example of a counselor who advocates, innovates, and leads her team forward.”
Dr. Brandon Petrosky, MHS Principal, said the school is proud of and fortunate to have Mrs. Bollander.
“Dedicated, compassionate, and unwavering in her commitment to student success, Mrs. Bollander goes above and beyond each day by building relationships with students, faculty, universities, and community partners,” Dr. Petrosky said. “Her ability to inspire confidence in students has supported our community for over a decade and resulted in increased post-secondary opportunities for Mechanicsville students.”
He added: “We are very fortunate to have Mrs. Bollander as a valued Mustang and are excited that everyone else is getting a chance to celebrate her accomplishments.”
Mrs. Bollander, a Longwood University and Virginia Commonwealth University alumna, has been a school counselor for 24 years. This is her fourth year at Mechanicsville High School. She said her favorite part of her job is building relationships with students.
“I consider it a great honor that students trust me to help them reach their future goals. I enjoy getting to know them, watching them grow and change, and being a support system for them within the school environment,” she said. “There is nothing better than seeing their smiling faces when they achieve success.”
HCPS has a career counselor who serves students at all middle and high schools, providing them with opportunities and resources for educational planning and career exploration.