Westerville South High School Guidance Counselor Charles Runyan was surprised on March 26 when it was announced that he had been chosen to receive the M. Jeanne Talley Human Relations Award from the Ohio Association of College Admission Counseling (OACAC). The presentation took place at the beginning of OACAC’s annual conference held at the Hilton Polaris.
The award recognizes individuals who have given meritorious service to those in need. Runyan’s nominators described him as professional, thoughtful, motivated, kind, caring and always focused on helping students. They said he has a “servant’s heart,” embodying the work that Jeanne Talley advocated for in her mission of outreach to under-served students. They said he is open to dialogue and to the exchange of ideas to improve inclusion; that he is a strong advocate for pupils with a steadfast commitment to diversity and a keen eye for seeing the big picture; and that he treats everyone with respect and dignity.
Runyan has been a guidance counselor at Westerville South since 2015. He holds a Master of Science in Education, School Counseling, from the University of Dayton; a Master of Arts, Student Affairs Administration, from Michigan State University; and a Bachelor of Arts, Communication, from The Ohio State University. He has been involved with OACAC since 2006, having served in many capacities. His colleagues called him, “a voice for our organization that we can be very proud of.”