Counseling Students Awarded NBCCF Fellowships

Four Seattle University Counseling students received prestigious national fellowships through the National Board for Certified Counselors Foundation (NBCCF). 

The NBCCF provides counseling scholarships and fellowships to graduate students committed to providing counseling services to underserved communities. Available awards range from $10,000 to $20,000. There are up to 30 master's fellowships for mental health counseling students and 40 master's fellowships for addiction counseling students. Those interested in learning more or applying for NBCCF scholarships and fellowships can do so here. 

Seattle University NBCCF Fellowship Recipients 

Mahera Badat

• Mental Health Counseling - Master's Fellows
• Badat is a graduate of The University of Texas at Austin and is currently a master’s student in the clinical mental health counseling program at Seattle University. Upon graduation, Badat will be eligible to obtain her clinical mental health counselor license in Washington and intends to work with refugee and migrant children in King County. As an LMHC, Badat aims to facilitate clients' empowerment, growth, and self-awareness through multiculturally competent mental health counseling, assessments, and diagnosis. After resettling in the United States, war-affected refugee and migrant children require special care. Badat will utilize trauma-informed practices, evidence-based techniques such as CBT and family-based intervention, and other methods developed to meet her young clients’ needs. Earning this fellowship will allow Badat to attend counseling conferences, build connections with other future counselors, and cultivate new practices and skills to better serve underserved populations. Additionally, the fellowship will support Badat's professional growth, both as an advocate for her clients and in her identity as a counselor.

Sophia Gaffney

• NBCCF Addiction Counseling Fellows
• Gaffney is a graduate of the University of San Diego and is currently a master’s student in the clinical mental health counseling program at Seattle University. After graduation, Gaffney plans to work with currently and formerly incarcerated individuals who are struggling with addiction. She also plans to work primarily with low-income individuals who are typically underserved in the world of mental health and addiction treatment. The opportunities, education, and experience gained from this fellowship with allow her to better serve her future clients and communities.

Amrita Heer

• NBCCF Addiction Counseling Fellows
• Heer is a graduate of the University of Washington and is currently a master’s student in the school counseling program at Seattle University. Upon completing her master's degree, Heer plans to be a counselor within the community she grew up in. She intends to work and collaborate with youth, families, and community members in Renton with an emphasis on substance use support. This fellowship will allow her to connect with other counseling professionals and receive support to create successful strategies and plans.

Eduardo Medina, Jr.

• NBCCF Addiction Counseling Fellows
• Medina is a graduate of Pierce College and Washington State University, and is currently a master’s student in the clinical mental health counseling program at Seattle University.