On April 11, 2024, PAPSA named two recipients of this year’s PAPSA Distinguished Service Awards. They are:

Tom Burnheimer (right) receives the PAPSA Distinguished Service Award from Dr. Frank M. Bruno.

Tom Burnheimer is a retired pupil services administrator for the West Shore School District. He is a former PAPSA president, who is one of the most respected professionals in our field. He is York County Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) for children in foster or residential care and served on the county Child & Adolescent Service System (CASSP) Advisory Board as Urban school representative to the PASA Advisory Committee. While at West Shore, in partnership with community-based organizations, the WSSD became the first district in the area to provide mental health screenings using a web-based assessment tool. In conjunction with that initiative, West Shore was one of the first in south-central PA to offer school based mental health services to students tapping into private insurance, medical assistance and local funds to pay for them. He is currently doing consultant work in the field.

Dr. Adam Oldham receives the PAPSA Distinguished Service Award from PAPSA President Matt Ammons (left) and Executive Director Dr. Douglas Arnold (right).

Dr. Adam Oldham is a dynamo in the field of pupil services and the founder of the PA Coalition of Student Services Associations (PACSSA). He was the 2017 Pennsylvania SADD Advisor of the Year and is five-time nominee for the PA School Counselor of the Year Award. He has served on the Pennsylvania School Counselors Association (PSCA) Board of Directors from 2016-2024 and has led PSCA Government Relations since 2020.  He also serves as the President of the School Counselor Section of the Pennsylvania State Educators Association (PSEA) Department of Pupil Services. He is currently a school counselor in the Big Spring School District and a member of PAPSA.