Affton Counselor Earns STLCC Enrollment Champion Award

Mary Giunta, a college and career counselor at Affton High School, was honored as one of four STLCC Enrollment Champions in October.

Updated on Nov. 3, 2026 in Secondary Education

Affton Counselor Earns STLCC Enrollment Champion Award

Mary Giunta, College and Career Counselor at Affton High School for 12 years, received the 2026 St. Louis Community College Enrollment Champion Award for the Meramec Campus. The award was presented to four high school counselors, one for each STLCC campus, at a ceremony in October.

Why it matters

The award recognizes counselors who help students transition into college coursework while still in high school. For St. Louis families, it highlights local pathways that allow students to earn college credit before graduation.

Approximately 12 Affton High School students are enrolled in the Early College Academy, and about 10 join the Make It Count program each year. Five to 10 additional students typically take random dual enrollment courses, though the source does not detail how these figures compare to prior years.

The players

Mary Giunta

Giunta serves as College and Career Counselor at Affton High School, guiding students toward STLCC programs and other postsecondary options.

St. Louis Community College (STLCC)

STLCC is a public community college system serving the St. Louis region across several campuses, including Meramec.

The details

Giunta received the award as the recipient for STLCC's Meramec Campus, one of four winners. Students in the Early College Academy attend the community college during their junior and senior years, while Make It Count participants finish high school requirements by the fall of senior year and complete a semester of dual enrollment at STLCC.

October 2026: Four counselors received Enrollment Champion Awards at a ceremony.

Pathways Forward

The recognition centers on the Early College Academy and Make It Count dual enrollment programs that allow high schoolers to earn STLCC credit before graduation. Counselors like Giunta act as the link that places students into these existing pathways.

Students at Affton and similar high schools can ask their counselors about the Early College Academy or Make It Count before junior year to plan dual enrollment. Families should confirm eligibility requirements directly with their school counseling office.

The takeaway

Talking with a school counselor early can open access to college credit while still in high school. Ask about dual enrollment options during course planning each year.