Nabila Bouqlata was elected as the Instructional Support Staff of the Year during the 2019 ACE Conference Awards Luncheon. Ms. Bouqlata is a Career Advisor in Office of Student Affairs at Atlantic Technical College working with the Pre-College Academic Studies students. She has been in this role since January of 2015. She works with the Adult General Education students to assist in helping them meet their educational goals while supporting them through their journey to next steps either at Atlantic Technical College in one of the career training programs and/or other post-secondary options. However, Nabila’s journey at Atlantic Technical College did not start there. Nabila came to Atlantic Technical College as a student in 2010. She had recently arrived in the United States after getting married, knowing very little English. She attended the ESOL program to gain English language skills. She built her skills and then decided to apply for an available position to support other adult students. Hiring Nabila made perfect sense. She had a passion for working with people and had experiences that fit the needs of the school. Prior to coming to the United States, Nabila had earned a bachelor’s degree in biology was working in a lab and had later taught math and French to elementary-aged students when it was difficult to find work as a biologist in her country of Morocco. Working with students was a natural next step. She became a part-time teacher, a certified testing proctor and later a Career Advisor. When she sees a need, she finds a way to fill it. She seeks to find innovative solutions to enhance the services that are provided to our students. She regularly launches student and teacher surveys to secure information that will help to decrease barriers to participation. She also decided to research and create an online advisement/counseling live chat feature on the Atlantic Technical College website so that students and potential students could ask questions and/or gain information either while on campus or at home without having to step foot in the office. She monitors and conducts live sessions twice per week while maintaining a face-to-face large caseload. Ms. Bouqlata builds relationships with students that keep them coming back. When students first encounter Nabila, they are hesitant to see another counselor because of her caring nature and genuine support that she provides to all that she encounters. Ms. Bouqlata is a consummate advocate for students. As a former English language learner herself, she understands the adult student experience in a unique way. She treats everyone with kindness and respect, knowing that it can be a humbling experience to enroll in classes as an adult and pursue their educational goals. As one of the first people the students see, Nabila welcomes each student with care and takes thoughtful time during the intake process to learn each individual student’s background. She continues to build relationships, help students in decreasing barriers and walks them through the many challenges they may face while pursuing their goals. Nabila is not only well-liked by the students, but also is well respected by her colleagues. She is always professional and ready to help in any capacity in which she is asked. Nabila would never say no. She is a find a way, make a way individual and a valued member of the Office of Student Affairs team. All her contributions and the difference she makes in the lives of so many never go unnoticed. Although she thought she would spend her life as a biologist working in a lab finding remedies for diseases, we are so glad that she took that caring nature to interact with people in a different way. She has found her passion in teaching, advising and helping students find their way to success. Nabila has said it best herself when she says, I may not be finding cures for diseases; [however] I am finding solutions to help people become successful by leading productive lives and now they are paying-it-forward by sharing their talents within their communities.