Nominations are now being accepted by the National Court Reporters Foundation for the Frank Sarli Memorial Scholarship and the New Professional Reporter Grant. The deadline for both the scholarship and grant is March 18.
The Frank Sarli Memorial Scholarship of $2,000 has benefited court reporting students nearing graduation for nearly two decades. The New Professional Reporter Grant of $2,000 benefits a qualified new working reporter who has graduated from an NCRA-certified program within the past year. Both awards are based on nominations, and recipients must meet a number of criteria.
NCRF’s Frank Sarli Memorial Scholarship honors the late Frank Sarli, a court reporter who was committed to supporting students at the highest level of their education. Sarli, who was studying to become a professional pianist, turned to court reporting when he could no longer afford the tuition to music school. During his career, he opened Accurate Court Reporters in Orlando, Fla., Orange County’s first independent court reporting firm, and was a founding member of the Florida Shorthand Reporters Association. Sarli also served in numerous roles at the national level, including as a director for NCRA. He was the first Floridian to earn NCRA’s Distinguished Service Award.
“The Frank Sarli Memorial Scholarship not only helped me with the cost of schooling, but it also gave me the boost of confidence I needed to succeed through school and into this amazing profession,” said Kendra Steppler, who was the 2015 recipient of the scholarship.
“Realizing the director of my school believed in me through her nomination allowed for that. She also presented me with different experiences during school that allowed me to show my ability as a future reporter. Take on any task presented to you; it will lead to opportunity and reward,” added Steppler.
Steppler graduated from Sumner College in Portland, Ore., in June 2015 and is now an official court reporter for the First Judicial District Court in Helena, Mont. In the seven months since taking the job, she has had the opportunity to experience a number of amazing – and sometimes wild – scenarios, including a first transcript order for a case that was more than 800 pages.
“I was completely surprised when I received an email informing me I was being awarded with the Frank Sarli Memorial Scholarship. I had no idea I was even being nominated. It was very exciting and also extremely motivating. What a wonderful profession full of opportunity. I have the Frank Sarli Memorial Scholarship to thank for helping me along the way,” she added.
Both the scholarship and the grant are supported by donations to the NCRF Angels Drive and other fundraisers. Recipients will be recognized at the 2016 NCRA Convention & Expo., being held in Chicago, Ill., Aug. 4-8.
More information about all of NCRA’s and NCRF’s grants and scholarships can be found in the February issue of the JCR.
To learn more about the Frank Sarli Memorial Scholarship or the New Professional Reporter Grant, visit NCRA.org/Foundation.
