Starting your career in court reporting or captioning is exciting — but it can also be expensive. That’s why the National Court Reporters Foundation (NCRF) created the New Professionals Grant: a powerful opportunity designed to support and celebrate qualified candidates who are among the next generation of professionals. The application period is April 1-June 5.
Each year NCRF awards four grants to outstanding new professionals who demonstrate excellence, dedication, and passion for the profession. Two first-place recipients receive $4,000 each, while two second-place recipients are awarded $2,000 each, providing welcome financial support during the year.
Investing in your future
The New Professionals Grant can be used to offset essential startup expenses including purchasing software, upgrading equipment, and pursuing certifications — tools that help new reporters and captioners ensure their success.
Who may apply?
This opportunity is open to driven, high-achieving individuals who are ready to make their mark. Applicants must:
- Be a current NCRA member
- Have graduated from a court reporting program
- Have earned a minimum GPA of 3.5 (on a 4.0 scale or equivalent)
- Be within their first year out of school
- Be actively working in one of the following career paths:
- Judicial reporting (official or freelance)
- CART (Communication Access Realtime Translation)
- Captioning.
In addition, applicants must be nominated by their employer or contracting agency. Please note that only one nomination per employer or agency will be accepted.
Application requirements
To be considered, applicants must submit the following materials:
- An official academic transcript from a court reporting school
- A letter of recommendation from their employer or agency, highlighting their professionalism, attitude, and motivation
- A 400–600 word essay responding to the prompt:
What impact has the stenographic court reporting or captioning profession had on your life? Why are you passionate about your future in this field?
Full eligibility criteria and application materials can be found on the grant page.
If you’re ready to invest in your future and share your passion, don’t miss this opportunity.
For questions about this program and other NCRF initiatives, please contact ncrfoundation@ncra.org, NCRF Director Jill Parker Landsman at jlandsman@ncra.org, or NCRF Manager Alex Vlahopoulos at avlahopoulos@ncra.org.
Comments are closed.