Olivia Carter wins 2021 School Counselor of the Year award

Sarah Yenesel

Friday, December 4, 2020

During a "Joy Sparking Ceremony" on Friday, Dec. 4, 2020, students, teachers and other staff gathered in the Jefferson Elementary School gymnasium to ultimately celebrate the official announcement that their own school counselor, Olivia Carter, won the 2021 School Counselor of the Year award from the American School Counselor Association.

Students, teachers and other school staff gathered in the gymnasium Friday for a "Joy Sparking Ceremony" that ultimately celebrated Olivia Carter for winning the Counselor of the Year award at Jefferson Elementary School in Cape Girardeau on Dec. 4, 2020. (Sarah Yenesel ~ Southeast Missourian)
Terrance Dorsey dances for students to "All I Want For Christmas Is You" by Mariah Carey during the "Joy Sparking Ceremony" at Jefferson Elementary School in Cape Girardeau on Friday, Dec. 4, 2020. (Sarah Yenesel ~ Southeast Missourian)
Fifth grade student Ivy Myers leans on Olivia Carter while they watch a video that announces her win during the "Joy Sparking Ceremony" at Jefferson Elementary School in Cape Girardeau on Friday, Dec. 4, 2020. (Sarah Yenesel ~ Southeast Missourian)
Fifth grade students react once it is announced that Olivia Carter won the Counselor of the Year award during the "Joy Sparking Ceremony" at Jefferson Elementary School in Cape Girardeau on Friday, Dec. 4, 2020. (Sarah Yenesel ~ Southeast Missourian)

Coworkers and family cheer for school counselor Olivia Carter once it is announced that Carter won the Counselor of the Year award during the "Joy Sparking Ceremony" at Jefferson Elementary School in Cape Girardeau on Friday, Dec. 4, 2020. (Sarah Yenesel ~ Southeast Missourian)
School counselor Olivia Carter hugs Terrance Dorsey after it was announced that Carter won the Counselor of the Year award during the "Joy Sparking Ceremony" at Jefferson Elementary School in Cape Girardeau on Friday, Dec. 4, 2020. (Sarah Yenesel ~ Southeast Missourian)
School counselor Olivia Carter wipes away tears after it was announced that she won the Counselor of the Year award during the "Joy Sparking Ceremony" at Jefferson Elementary School in Cape Girardeau on Friday, Dec. 4, 2020. (Sarah Yenesel ~ Southeast Missourian)
(From left) Grandmother Patricia Williams, father John Shell, step-mother Patti Shell, Olivia Carter, husband Adam Carter and father-in-law James Carter pose for a photo after the "Joy Sparking Ceremony" that announced Olivia won the Counselor of the Year award at Jefferson Elementary School in Cape Girardeau on Friday, Dec. 4, 2020. (Sarah Yenesel ~ Southeast Missourian)
Kindergarten Teacher Chelsie Huskey (center) cheers for School counselor Olivia Carter as she arrives to the celebratory coffee break after it was announced that Carter won the Counselor of the Year award at Jefferson Elementary School in Cape Girardeau on Friday, Dec. 4, 2020. (Sarah Yenesel ~ Southeast Missourian)

School counselor Olivia Carter talks to teachers and other staff during a celebratory coffee break after it was announced that she won the Counselor of the Year award at Jefferson Elementary School in Cape Girardeau on Friday, Dec. 4, 2020. (Sarah Yenesel ~ Southeast Missourian)