The National Court Reporters Foundation (NCRF) announces the recipients of the 2026 Christine Phipps Family Foundation Conference Travel Awards. These awards of $1,000 each help awardees attend the NCRA Conference & Expo to take advantage of valuable educational and networking opportunities.

Made possible through the generosity of the Christine Phipps Family Foundation, the awards help recipients connect with experienced professionals, explore emerging trends in the field, and gain inspiration as they pursue their careers in court reporting and captioning.

 “I’m delighted to support 10 outstanding NCRA members with the Christine Phipps Family Foundation Travel Awards,” said Christine Phipps, RPR (Ret.)., 2020-2021 NCRA Past President and former owner of Phipps Reporting. “Each recipient has truly impressed me with their dedication and enthusiasm for our field, and their stories reflect the perseverance and passion that drive our profession forward.”

“Attending NCRA Conferences played a pivotal role in shaping my own career, offering invaluable opportunities to learn, connect, and grow. It’s incredibly rewarding to help others take advantage of those same experiences through the Foundation, and I look forward to seeing how these awardees will continue to make a positive impact in our community,” she added.

The 2026 recipients are:

• NOT PICTURED: Anna Sohn of Montgomery County, Md., Cuyahoga Community College

NCRF Chair Doug Friend, FAPR, RDR, CRR (Ret.), said, “Thanks to the generous donor support from Christine, these NCRF Christine Phipps Family Foundation Travel Awards help remove financial barriers and open doors to valuable professional experiences. Congratulations to our 10 outstanding recipients.”

All the awardees shared their appreciation for being selected.

 “Thank you so much to Christine and the NCRF for making it possible for me to attend the NCRA Conference in Bellevue!” said Corpuz. “I’m especially grateful for the opportunity to begin my realtime journey, learn what role (if any) AI has in this career, and meet all the other passionate students and professionals. I can’t wait to learn how to be the best reporter I can be and share whatever I learn with my fellow students and future coworkers!”

Veare, reflecting on the opportunity ahead, said, “Attending this Conference and having the support and generosity given to me by the Christine Phipps Family Foundation is such a meaningful opportunity for me to grow, learn, and connect with other reporters in this incredible profession!”

Failure and fear are two distinctly separate things. Failure is data; it shows us where we can improve. Fear is the emotion we attach to that data. Failure is necessary for growth. Fear is not.

Kaly Stormer

Sharing her excitement, Sohn said, “I am excited to attend the NCRA Conference and network with and meet professionals and other students. Please say hi to me!”

“Thank you so much! I’m really excited to go to the Conference this year!” said Heuer.

Slattery, echoing all this enthusiasm, said, “Thank you so much for this opportunity! I can’t wait to attend the Conference!”

 Deans encouraged fellow students to take advantage of the support available within the profession. “There are so many resources out there to help students and new reporters,” she said. “Please get in the habit of reaching out.”

Several recipients also shared words of inspiration that have guided them throughout their educational journeys.

“You don’t have to see the whole staircase, just take the first step,” said Tseng, quoting Martin Luther King Jr.

“Tenacity is the quiet strength that refuses to quit,” said Gonzalez.

Stormer offered a perspective on resilience and growth: “Failure and fear are two distinctly separate things. Failure is data; it shows us where we can improve. Fear is the emotion we attach to that data. Failure is necessary for growth. Fear is not.”

Biller, reflecting on the impact of the court reporting community, said, “NCRA has been such a wonderful Association, and it is a great honor to be a member with them! Keep fighting hard for your goals, and I’ll be cheering you all the way to the finish line!”

NCRF congratulates all 10 recipients and thanks Phipps and the Christine Phipps Family Foundation for the continued commitment to supporting the next generation of court reporters and captioners. Through opportunities such as these travel awards, students and new professionals gain access to experiences that help strengthen their skills, expand their professional networks, and build workforce confidence.

For more information on this and other Foundation scholarships, please contact NCRF at ncrfoundation@ncra.org.