Several grants are now open in support of new professionals. Recent graduates who are in their first year of working out of school are encouraged to apply for one of two New Professional Reporter Grants. New professionals who hold the RSR or the RPR and who are in their first two years of reporting are encouraged to apply for the Monyeen Black Memorial Grant. The application windows close June 3 and June 30, respectively.
The New Professional Reporter Grant awards $2,000 to help support start-up expenses for a new reporter working in any of three career paths: Judicial (official/freelance), CART, or captioning. The award goes to a graduate who is in his or her first year of work, has graduated within the past year from a court reporting program, and meets specific additional criteria. A second-place grant of $1,000 will also be awarded.
Full criteria, an application, and a list of past recipients can be found on the grant page. The application period closes June 3.
An additional grant for new professionals who have passed either the RSR or RPR, the Monyeen Black Memorial Grant, is also open. This grant honors the memory of Monyeen Black, RPR, CRR, who passed away in January 2021. This is the second year the $1,000 award is being offered through NCRF.
In addition to meeting the noted criteria, candidates must submit an application, a letter of recommendation from their employer, and an essay answering this question: “How, when, and why did you realize that a career in court reporting was right for you?”
Full grant requirements can be found here. This application period closes June 30.
Read more about Monyeen Black, last year’s Monyeen Black Memorial Grant winner, and how to donate to the grant fund here.
