Guidance Counselors Nominate High School Students to Attend Summer Camps
By BARBARA ALLISON
Luciana Yanez carefully applied a cast to her patient’s lower leg. A camper in the Healthcare Institute summer program, Yanez was one of seven students nominated by their high school guidance counselor to attend the Summer Camps and Programs at Saint Mary’s College.
Saint Mary’s introduced the counselor-nominated initiative, which offers these students a 50 percent discount on tuition for their chosen camp as a way to offer access to the programs for students who otherwise might not be able to attend.
“Counselors are powerful influencers, and receiving a formal nomination for a summer program makes students feel valued and uniquely distinguished, often making them more receptive to this opportunity,” said Sarah Gallagher Dvorak ’99, Dean of Enrollment Management and Marketing. In many cases, campers who leave with a positive impression will apply to the College.
High school guidance counselors can nominate up to five students from their respective high schools. Yanez, a rising senior at Providence High School in Clarksville, Indiana, was nominated by her counselor Jamie McCray. Attending the Healthcare Institute strengthened her resolve that her career goal of becoming a physical therapist or a nurse is the right path for her.
Counselors are powerful influencers, and receiving a formal nomination for a summer program makes students feel valued and uniquely distinguished, often making them more receptive to this opportunity.
- Sarah Gallagher Dvorak ’99
Samaria Gerbregziabhar, a rising senior at Cardinal Ritter High School in Indianapolis, was nominated by her guidance counselor Kori Fajt to attend the Forensic Science Institute. Initially Gerbregziabhar aspired to a career as a forensic psychologist, but the camp showed her possibilities in STEM. “It’s opened my eyes to other roles like criminology, forensics, even law,” she said.
Both students enjoyed their experiences at Saint Mary’s. For Yanez, it was the campus’s beauty that inspired her. “I love that there's nature and specific prayer spots. That's really special,” she said.
Even though it was her first visit to campus, Gerbregziabhar already felt a sense of sisterhood with her fellow campers. “I made a lot of good connections with girls I hope to keep in contact with,” she said. “It was nice to get together with other girls with similar interests and to have good, productive conversations about the things we want to learn. We enjoyed this experience,” she said.
“By empowering high school counselors, we are able to broaden our reach and invite a more diverse student population to campus,” Gallagher Dvorak said. “It helps us meet three goals: to foster belonging, to increase access, and to cultivate a recruitment pipeline.” Later this fall, guidance counselors will be able to nominate students for summer 2027 Camps and Pre-College Institutes.
August 14, 2026