WINONA — Nick Ruiz, a professor emeritus at Winona State University, was awarded the Paul Wellstone Legacy Award from the Minnesota School Counselors Association.
The Paul Wellstone Legacy award is the most prestigious award given by the association. It is awarded to an individual or organization that engages in high standards of public service.
Ruiz received the award at the MSCA’s annual conference in Brainerd, Minn. He was given a $500 check, which he donated to the Walk-In Counseling Center in Minneapolis, where he is a volunteer counselor and counseling supervisor.
Ruiz has a doctorate in counseling psychology from the University of Minnesota. He serves on the editorial board of Measurement and Evaluation in Counseling and Development and has served on the editorial board of Counselor Education and Supervision.
He was part of the Minnesota Department of Human Services’ task force on minimum qualifications for master’s level mental health providers in Minnesota and has more than 20 years experience training master’s level mental health professionals. In 2007, he received a lifetime achievement award from the Minnesota Counseling Association.
