Nominations are now being accepted for the National Court Reporter Foundation’s Student Intern Scholarship, offering four $2,000 awards for high-achieving court reporting or captioning students who have completed the internship portion of their education. Applicants are nominated by their school and must fulfill scholarship requirements, including writing a short essay.
Scholarships help turn aspirations into realistic goals while relieving the burden of financial stress. This year NCRF has doubled the number of scholarships and the amount of each award.
Eligibility criteria include current NCRA student membership, speed test requirements, and a minimum 3.5 GPA. Judicial, CART, and captioning students are encouraged to apply. This year’s essay topic is “What technology tools, resources, and strategies will help you maintain your skills and well-being in your career? Explain what you believe are the keys to success.”
The application and full submission details are available on the scholarship page. The deadline to apply is Dec. 6, 2024.
Last year’s scholarship winners were Sophia Critelli, a student at Des Moines Area Community College in Des Moines, Iowa, and Krista Bishop, who studies at Cuyahoga Community College in Highland Hills, Ohio.
“I saw firsthand accounts of the unique relationships between court reporters and judges and the speed I hope to achieve soon,” said Critelli. “Participating in this internship made me more excited and able to envision myself in the courtroom. I believe an internship will help steno students become more comfortable in their skills and future workplace.”
“Throughout my internship, I recognized just how important creating an accurate record is,” wrote Bishop in her application essay. “There were several times that I saw attorneys use transcripts as references when questioning witnesses, and this helped them better present their position in court. Seeing firsthand how much court reporters contribute to the legal system only made me more passionate about this career.”
The NCRF scholarship and grants program promotes incentives for students and new professionals to learn and strive for excellence. Donations to all NCRF fundraising campaigns are always tax deductible. To learn about all NCRF fundraisers or to donate, visit the Foundation Fundraisers page.
For more information about NCRF and other scholarship and grant opportunities, email ncrfoundation@ncra.org. For specific questions, reach out to Jill Parker Landsman at jlandsman@ncra.org.
