The National Court Reporters Foundation (NCRF) announces that Crimson Elizondo of Uvalde, Texas and Samantha Brown of Garden Grove, Calif., are the inaugural recipients of the Kim Dore-Hackbarth Memorial Student Scholarship. Each recipient will receive a $2,000 scholarship to support their court reporting education and professional development.
Established in 2025, the scholarship honors the memory of Kim Dore-Hackbarth, a respected realtime reporter who devoted more than 30 years working at Buell Realtime Reporting. Known as a talented professional, trusted colleague, and generous mentor, Dore-Hackbarth left a lasting impact on the court reporting community through her dedication to excellence and her commitment to helping others succeed.
Her employer, Lisa Buell of Buell Realtime Reporting in Seattle, Wash., wanted this scholarship to create a legacy of excellence in her memory. Dore-Hackbarth’s family and friends have generously contributed to this scholarship fund, initially founded by Buell, and the scholarship will now last for several years.
“Words cannot express the tremendous honor I feel in being chosen as an inaugural recipient of the NCRF Kim Dore-Hackbarth Memorial Student Scholarship,” said Elizondo. “I am sincerely grateful to be connected to a legacy that celebrates dedication, service, and excellence, and I look forward to carrying those values forward throughout the rest of my academic journey and into my future court reporting career.”
Brown also reflected on the significance of receiving an award connected to Dore-Hackbarth’s legacy.
“I am so incredibly honored to be a recipient of the inaugural NCRF Kim Dore-Hackbarth Memorial Student Scholarship,” said Brown. “When I read about Kim’s impact on the court reporting community, I felt deeply inspired by the legacy she left behind and the way her influence lives on even after her passing. As I am near the end of my court reporting certificate program, I feel more motivated than ever to carry that same spirit of dedication and passion into my professional career. I am so grateful to the National Court Reporters Foundation for this recognition and honor.”
NCRF Chair Doug Friend, FAPR, RDR, CRR (Ret.), noted the importance of investing in students who embody the qualities Dore-Hackbarth exemplified.
“Kim was the kind of professional who elevated everyone around her,” said Friend. “These scholarships recognize students who have demonstrated the same commitment, determination, and enthusiasm for the profession. We are proud to honor her legacy by supporting Crimson and Samantha as they continue their journeys toward becoming outstanding court reporters.”
NCRF congratulates Crimson Elizondo and Samantha Brown on this well-deserved recognition and looks forward to their future contributions to the profession.
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