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Student and New Reporter Scholarships

Congratulations to our 2023 scholarship recipients!

2023 Scholarship Recipients Graphic

Rosalie Stevens Student Scholarship

In 1997, OCRA established the OCRA student scholarship award in an effort to encourage students who are currently pursuing their court reporting degree.  This award represents an incentive toward scholastic achievement and future professional development. 

In 2004, the award was renamed in honor of Rosalie Stevens. Rosalie served as a president to both OCRA and the National Court Reporters Association. Her enthusiasm and dedication to the profession was commendable and served as a shining example to future generations of court reporters. 

Each year, OCRA accepts scholarship applications from student members and presents the $500 scholarship award at our annual conference.  In addition, the winner also receives one year of OCRA membership and annual conference registration.

Past Recipients of the Rosalie Stevens Student Scholarship

1997: Michelle Lowery 
1998: Tonya Kaiser 
1999: Barbara Good 
2000: Melanie Reinke 
2003: Theresa Hinkle 
2004: Jonelle Rucker 
2005: Robert Green 
2006: Jennie Mauch 
2007: Daniel Cuff 
2008: Cheryl Laubacher 
2009: Janine Hebenthal 
2010: Stacey Mocz 
2011: Heather Wiggans 
2012: Theresa Cox 
2013: Michelle Harper 
2014: Kristina Carmody
2015: Heather Piper
2016: Suzanne Rafferty
2017: Teresa Nero
2018: Kaylee Wood
2019: Carly Capone
2023: Jill Wright

Sue Terry Technology At Your Fingertips Student Scholarship

In 2019, OCRA established the Sue Terry Technology At Your Fingertips Student Scholarship in recognition of then-NCRA President Sue Terry.  Sue Terry has been a beacon of technological advancement in Ohio and nationwide for the court reporting and captioning profession.   

Each year, OCRA accepts scholarship applications from student members and presents a $250 - $1,000 technological scholarship award at our annual conference.  In addition, the winner also receives one year of OCRA membership and annual conference registration.

Past Recipients of the Sue Terry Technology At Your Fingertips Student Scholarship

2019: Carly Capone
2023: Jacey Samic

OCRA Cardinal Foundation Student Scholarship

In 2015, the OCRA Board of Directors recognized the importance of supporting the future of the court reporting and captioning profession and created the OCRA Cardinal Foundation Student Scholarship Award, in addition to the Rosalie Stevens Student Scholarship Award. 

Each year, OCRA accepts scholarship applications from student members and routinely awards a second $250 - $500 scholarship award at our annual conference.  In addition, the recipient also receives one year of OCRA membership and annual conference registration.

Past Recipients of the OCRA Cardinal Foundation Scholarship

2015:  Angela Allenson
2016:  Blanca Flores Robinson
2023:  Hayley Long and Caitlin Walsh

Student Scholarship(s) Application

** Please note ** There will be two options in 2024 to apply for student scholarships:  The Rosalie Stevens Student Scholarship and Sue Terry Technology at Your Fingertips Student Scholarship.  Please read the eligibility requirements for each, as they differ slightly.

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ELIGIBLE APPLICANTS FOR THE ROSALIE STEVENS STUDENT SCHOLARSHIP: 

Students who have been actively engaged in the study of court reporting, either in a school or online program, for one year.  Students must be a member of OCRA and cannot have previously won the award.  If applicant is not currently an OCRA member, they may join at any time prior to submission of scholarship application.  Applicant must be a resident of the State of Ohio or attending an Ohio-based program, either online or in-person classroom.  

ELIGIBLE APPLICANTS FOR A SUE TERRY TECHNOLOGY AT YOUR FINGERTIPS STUDENT SCHOLARSHIP: 

Students who have been actively engaged in the study of court reporting, either in a school or online program, through theory courses.  Students must be a member of OCRA.  If applicant is not currently an OCRA member, they may join at any time prior to submission of scholarship application.  Applicant must be a resident of the State of Ohio or attending an Ohio-based program, either online or in-person classroom.

APPLICATION PROCESS: 

To submit your application for the scholarship please complete the following three steps. All three steps must be completed and received by deadline to be eligible. 

STEP ONE: Personal application (Form A) 

STEP TWO: Nomination form completed by instructor or by any active member of OCRA (Form B).  Applicants must return this completed form with their application materials or have instructor/member send to OCRA separately. If the instructor/member nomination form (Form B) is being sent separately from student's application, it is the applicant's responsibility to ensure that it is received by OCRA prior to the deadline. 

STEP THREE: Your answered essay (Form C) and any additional information about yourself, such as a resume or letters of support, that you would like to include.  

Vernon C. Steele New Reporter Scholarship

Vernon (Vern) C. Steele was a long-time member, former president, and director of the Ohio Court Reporters Association.  He spent his entire 47-year court reporting career in Cincinnati reporting for Hamilton County Common Pleas Judges Thomas Nurre, Kim Burke, and the late Ralph Kohnen.  He held himself to a high standard of excellence and was well respected by his peers.  Vern passed away December 14, 2014.

In memory of Vern Steele, the Ohio Court Reporters Association Cardinal Foundation and Vern's family would like to honor and recognize new reporters in the court reporting and captioning profession with a start-up scholarship to help with expenses.  The scholarship may be awarded each year up to $1,000.

The inaugural Vernon C. Steele New Reporter Scholarship Award was awarded on April 23, 2016 during OCRA's 2016 Annual Conference. 

Past Recipients of the Vernon C. Steele New Reporter Scholarship

2016:  Melissa Case, RPR
2017:  Michelle Harper, RPR
2023:  Shirley Duron

Vernon C. Steele New Reporter Scholarship Application

 

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ELIGIBLE APPLICANTS:

Applicants must be a resident of the State of Ohio and meet the following criteria in order to be considered for the award of the Vernon C. Steele New Reporter Scholarship.

    1. The applicant must be a current OCRA member and cannot have previously won this scholarship.
    2. The applicant must have graduated from an NCRA-certified program, or request special consideration for such other graduation/program completion.
    3. The applicant must be in his/her first three years as a working reporter, as verified by an official transcript or verification statement from the court reporting program submitted along with this application.
    4. The applicant must submit a letter of recommendation from his/her employer or contracting agency attesting to the applicant's professional demeanor, attitude, and motivation.
    5. The applicant must be striving to achieve certification, as verified by receipt of registration for a past/upcoming certification test.
    6. The applicant must be working in one or more of the profession's career paths: judicial (official/freelance), CART captioning, or broadcast captioning.

APPLICATION PROCESS: 

To submit your application for the Vernon C. Steele New Reporter Scholarship, please complete the following steps.  All steps must be completed and received by the deadline to be eligible.           

STEP ONE:  Personal application (Form A)

STEP TWO:  Letter of recommendation completed by employer or contracting agency (Form B).  Applicants must return this completed form with their application materials or have the employer send to OCRA separately.  If the employer recommendation form is being sent separately from application, it is the applicant’s responsibility to ensure that it is received by OCRA prior to the deadline.

STEP THREE:  Guarantee submission to OCRA prior to the deadline of all required documentation (court reporting program/graduation verification and certification test registration), as well as any additional information that you would like to include, such as a resume or letters of support.  These items may be emailed to ocraonline@gmail.com or mailed to the OCRA office.