Dozens of students gathered around tables to pick the brains of seasoned professional court reporters, seeking tips for making it through school, what to expect when they graduate, insights into what the different career paths offer, and more during the ever-popular Student Speed Dating session held at the 2022 NCRA Conference & Expo held last month in Orlando, Fla.
The session, which has been a staple in the student track at NCRA’s flagship event for the past several years, gave students who participated the chance to meet with working officials, freelancers, captioners, and CART providers as they moved from table to table every 10 minutes.
“I have been facilitating this event since its inception, and it is truly an event that is well received year after year by students,” said Deborah Kriegshauser, FAPR, RMR, CRR, CRC, CLVS, Chair of the NCRA Student-Teacher Committee.
“It is so exciting to hear what students participating for the first time want to know, as well as to hear returning students share how valuable what they learned in previous speed dating events has been to them. All of the students are inquisitive and excited, and I think their excitement generates back to the professionals who volunteer to participate as well,” she added.
Professionals who participated in this latest Student Speed Dating event included: Melanie L. Humphrey-Sonntag, FAPR, RDR, CRR, CRC; Kathryn A. Thomas, RDR, CRR, CRC; Allison Hall, RDR, CRR; Rich Germosen, RDR, CRR; Lee Leigh “Lili”, RPR, CRI; Ron Cook, FAPR, RDR, CRR, CRC; Kelli Ann Willis, RPR, CRR; Traci Mertens, RDR, CRR, CRC; Cathy Penniston, RPR, CRI; and Stacey E. Raikes, RMR, CRR.
“This was my third year volunteering for this session, and I just love the enthusiasm these students bring to the table each time. They are smart, they are driven, and they are dedicated, everything that a successful court reporter or captioner needs to be,” said Willis.
“I believe that as veterans of the profession it is our duty to help nurture these students into new professionals so that they can in time become veterans of the profession who can take a seat at the table of future such events,” she added.
