Supporting dreams: NCRF and Christine Phipps Family Foundation empower first-time Conference attendees

Congratulations to the winners of our recent NCRF/NCRA Conference & Expo giveaways. Seven student members have won conference registrations (a $320 value each) and the Christine Phipps Family Foundation has granted seven $1,000 awards to members to help defray the costs of attending the Conference as first-time attendees.

NCRF/NCRA Student Conference Registration Giveaway

Kudos to these students. We can’t wait to see how they grow, connect, and level up their passion for this incredible profession through this unique learning and networking opportunity.

Melissa Clavio of Sebastian, Fla., a student at Champion Steno
Liane Hatch of Whispering Pines, N.C., a student at College of Court Reporting
Emily Jeanson of Anoka, Minn., a student at Anoka Technical College
Vanessa Johns of Louisville, Ky., a student at SimplySteno
Kari Lindberg of Shoreview, Minn., a student at Allison Hall Reporting Education
Mariana Schmidt of Munhall, Pa., a student at Community College of Allegheny County
Maegan Schnoebelen of Oskaloosa, Iowa, a student at Des Moines Area Community College

Christine Phipps Family Foundation Travel Awards

“It’s an honor to support dedicated court reporters through travel scholarships that help ease the financial burden of professional development,” said Christine Phipps, RPR, NCRA Past President and Founder of the Christine Phipps Family Foundation. “I believe that when we invest in each other, we strengthen our entire profession. Through the National Court Reporters Foundation, my foundation is proud to help create more opportunities for our colleagues to grow, connect, and thrive.”

Melissa Clavio of Sebastian, Fla., a student at Champion Steno
Marina Flores, RPR, an official reporter from El Paso, Texas
Paula Humphrey of North Caldwell, N.J., a student at Plaza College
Mya Perez, RPR, a freelance reporter from La Marque, Texas
Tess Roberts from Homestead, Pa., a student at Des Moines Area Community College
Mariana Schmidt of Munhall, Pa., a student at Community College of Allegheny County
Maegan Schnoebelen of Oskaloosa, Iowa, a student at Des Moines Area Community College

Melissa Clavio

The enthusiasm for the Christine Phipps Travel Awards is clear from winner responses to the news of the awards. “Thank you so much for awarding me with this travel scholarship,” said Melissa Clavio, who also won a free student registration. “I have my student business cards ready for the NCRA Conference and trying my best to come to MN prepared with questions for agencies, reporters, and etc. Thank you for caring about this industry and helping my generation of fellow students. It really means a lot to us!”

Maegen Schnoebelen, who also won a free registration, is thrilled about attending the Conference. “I am so looking forward to spending some time with my fellow steno students and working reporters,” she wrote to Phipps. “One of the best things about this profession is the community it provides. Thank you for giving me this gift. I am honored. I am grateful. I am blown away by your kindness and generosity to court reporting students like me.”

“THANK YOU SO MUCH!!!” Marina Flores said to Phipps. “I am sooo excited and this was the best news to wake up to! I am incredibly honored and so grateful for this opportunity! Thank you for taking the time to share a little bit about your story and how the NCRA Conference helped you advance in your career.”

“I am deeply appreciative of your support and all the good that you do,” Paula Humphrey told Phipps in an email. “But most of all, I am grateful for your belief, and I would like to thank you for choosing me. Receiving this scholarship will allow me to continue chasing my dreams and future and will allow me to make connections with other stenographers which means a lot. Thank you again for your generous and thoughtful gift, I appreciate it,” she added.

Excited about her chosen court reporting work and CART captioning intentions, Tess Roberts wrote to Phipps, “This is wonderful, I am so excited to join you all at Conference this year! Cathy Penniston, RPR, CRI, has been a wonderful educator and advocate for our continued learning, and I am so blessed that she brought this opportunity to my attention.

“My grandpa was accepted into the Deaf Olympics twice. … He participated in the shot put, discus, and javelin throw and was an active board member of the Iowa State’s Commission of the Deaf, which helped create and oversee the Deaf Services of Iowa. He was a big advocate for deaf people all over the state of Iowa and I would like to think he would be proud of my pursuits!” she added.

Students can still enter to win a free Conference registration – deadline June 13

Great news! A second application round is now open for students to enter to win a free Conference registration. The 2025 NCRA Conference & Expo is being held at the Hyatt Regency in Minneapolis, Minn., July 24-26 and is a great way for students to learn from the best in the business. There are special sessions curated for students and several opportunities to network with other students as well as both new professionals and veterans.

Opportunity: NCRF and NCRA Student/Teacher Committee are hosting a Round Two drawing to give away student conference registrations (each a $320 value).

Eligibility: Applicants must be a current NCRA member, enrolled in a court reporting/captioning program, and/or provide verification that they have passed one skills test at 180 words per minute. Application forms for the drawings can be found here.