NCRA member Sarah Vaught Nageotte, FAPR, RDR, CRR, CRC, an official federal court reporter from Jefferson, Ohio, was recognized with the Association’s Distinguished Service Award (DSA), the organization’s highest honor. Nageotte was honored at a special awards ceremony held at the 2024 NCRA Conference & Expo Aug. 1-3 at The Galt House Hotel in Louisville, Ky.
The NCRA DSA recognizes the distinguished work and service by an individual member for the benefit of the court reporting and captioning professions, including service to NCRA as a member, a committee member, a director, or an officer of the Association. Other displays of distinguished work include contributing to the JCR, the official membership magazine, service to a state or local court reporting association, or service in the field of public relations or public affairs. Award winners are nominated by their peers and are recognized each year at the NCRA Conference & Expo.
She has been an official court reporter since 1998 and is currently employed by the U.S. District Court Northern District of Ohio. She has also worked as an official reporter for the Ashtabula County Common Pleas Court in Ohio, and the Crawford County Common Pleas Court in Pennsylvania.
In addition to NCRA, Nageotte holds membership in the U.S. Court Reporters Association and the Ohio Court Reporters Association and is a past member of the Pennsylvania Court Reporters Association.
In 2014 Nageotte became the youngest president elected to lead NCRA. Since 2007 she has served on an array of NCRA committees and in many positions on the Association’s Board of Directors. She currently is in her 17th year serving as a qualified grader for the Association’s skills examinations. Her volunteerism over the years to NCRA has included service on the Officials Community of Interest Committee as well as the CAPR Verification, Social Networking, Policies & Procedures, New Professionals Advisory, Nominating, and CEO/Executive Director Search Committees. She has served on the following Task Forces: New Affiliates, Strategic Alliance, Grassroots Realtime (TRAIN), and Education (VEETF), and has also served twice as a liaison to the Court Reporters Advisory Group of the U.S. Courts.
At the state level, Nageotte has volunteered for a variety of activities and committees for the Ohio Court Reporters Association (OCRA) where she currently also serves as its executive director. She currently serves on the association’s Website/Public Relations Committee. Other committees she has served on include the Proactive Planning Task Force and the Legislative, Marketing, and Certification committees.
A presenter at both the national and state levels, Nageotte is also the recipient of numerous awards including the 2015 OCRA Diplomat Award, the 2012 OCRA Legislative Award, and the 2008 OCRA Glenn W. Stiles, Jr. Distinguished Service Award. She has also been a frequent contributor to the JCR print magazine as well as state publications.
Nominations from her peers for NCRA’s 2024 DSA included adjectives such as devoted, committed, and working above and beyond to promote and further the stenographic court reporting and captioning professions.
“Sarah’s devotion to her profession is readily apparent in everything she does. She does so much more than observe. I have watched her evolve from a volunteer for OCRA to serving in the highest ranks of NCRA. She exemplifies professionalism in every interaction. She has made a tremendous impact on me personally and professionally,” said Allison A. Kimmel, FAPR, RDR, CRR, CRC, an official court reporter and broadcast captioner from Marysville, Ohio.
“I know no one with more enthusiasm about stenography than Sarah. She is an advocate for the profession, and she regularly takes extra steps to demonstrate to other court reporters how they can be better advocates as well,” added Marlana M. Haig, RPR, CRI, a freelance court reporter from Indianapolis, Ind.
“Sarah is a visionary leader with a great knowledge of governance. I believe she is deserving of the DSA because Sarah doesn’t stop with being a leader. Sarah is a cultivator of leaders … she is continuously bringing up the next group of people to leaders,” noted Meredith A. Bonn, RPR, CRR, an official court reporter from Webster, N.Y.
