For the past 17 years, Ms. Nancy Caine has established, improved, and perfected the college counseling system at Saint Augustine High School. After this 2015-2016 school year, she will be retiring from her position as the Director of College Counseling.
Ms. Caine has worked with thousands of Saintsmen and families to search for the right college “fit.” As a result, countless students have become eligible for schools in-state, across the nation, and even in other countries. Some of her other contributions include: enhancing the Advanced Placement (AP) program, introducing Saints to the International Boys’ School Coalition (IBSC), and founding the Senior College Application Workshop. Her efforts were recognized in 2003 when she was named the San Diego/Imperial County College Counselor of the Year.
One of her most memorable experiences within the Saints community was how she was hired. In the year that her son graduated from high school in 1999, the late Fr. Walter Vogel, O.S.A. stepped down from the part-time college counselor position at Saints. Fr. Vogel had been her student at UCSD where she founded and taught the UCSD college counseling and certificate program. Ms. Caine was working in the Poway School District at the time. Father John Sanders, the former principal, called her and asked if she would be interested in filling the position. She gladly accepted. deneme bonusu veren siteler
Fr. Sanders requested that she create a “college-going culture.” With the help of key figures such as Fr. Sanders and Mr. Healy, the late ninth grade counselor, the foundation of a successful college culture was set.
Dr. Rey will become the Director of Counseling Services in the Guidance Department where college counseling will become part of each counselor’s job.
“She has been an incredible mentor to me. I started from knowing little about college admissions to feeling extremely confident.” said Dr. Rey.
Ms. Caine is most proud of the hard work Saintsmen put in from the time they’re freshman to the day they graduate. In the most recent years, Saintsmen have earned over two million dollars a year in scholarship grants. Ms. Caine has also been instrumental in helping several Saintsmen become Gates Millennium Scholars over the years.
With her involvement in multiple college counseling programs, it is not rare for Ms. Caine and Saints’ administration to meet and discuss updates on college expectations, courses, and requirements.
“Ms. Caine is a true legend in the world of college counseling,” Mr. Hecht said. “She has taken Saints to new heights in the area of college admissions and the reputation of our school in San Diego. I am most grateful for her partnership and leadership over the course of my time, here at Saints.”
Ms. Caine currently does not hold any specific plans for after retirement. She simply hopes to take on each day one at a time.
“The counselors here at Saints are among the best counselors with whom I have ever worked. Their level of quality and care is unequalled,” said Ms. Caine. “In the future, I would like to support the college counseling services at Saints in whatever way I can.”
By Sean Panado (‘17)
This article first appeared in the April issue of The Augustinian.
