Stenograph believes very strongly in the future of the court reporting and captioning professions. We are continually demonstrating our commitment to ensure that our mutual future is a bright one by supporting the business with the highest quality products and services, by providing representation and services at regional, state, national, and international association meetings, and through donations to organizations dedicated to the future of the industry.

A new and inspiring way that Stenograph has directly underwritten the future of court reporting is by creating two merit-based two-year scholarships, the Milton H. Wright Memorial Scholarship and the Robert T. Wright Memorial Scholarship. These scholarships were recently awarded to two promising students. These awards are worth up to $5,000 a year and include the use of a student writer and software.

The winner of the Milton H. Wright scholarship, named in honor of the memory of Stenograph’s founder, and awarded in conjunction with NCRA and the National Court Reporters Foundation is Lisa Wurtinger, a student at Anoka Technical College in Anoka, Minnesota. “I am incredibly honored to be a recipient of this scholarship as I know so many students have worked hard for this opportunity,” Wurtinger said. “The A to Z program introduced me to this incredible field, and to receive recognition for my hard work is so rewarding. The generosity of Stenograph with this scholarship gives me the encouragement and determination to continue on this journey toward graduation.”

To be eligible to apply for the Milton H. Wright Memorial Scholarship, Lisa and her fellow applicants had to meet the following criteria:

• Attend an NCRA-approved court reporting program
• Have completed an NCRA A to Z® Intro to Steno Machine Shorthand program
• Have received an NCRA A to Z® Certificate of Completion
• Have attained an exemplary academic record (3.5 GPA or above)
• Have passed one skills test writing 80-120 words per minute at the time of submission

Tami Keenan, FAPR, RPR, CPE, Chair of the NCRF Trustees, said, “NCRF so appreciates Stenograph’s commitment to the future of the court reporting and captioning professions and the company’s generosity to aid students financially in their journey into this wonderful career.” She added, “Paying it forward to help others be successful and productive is not only humbling, but it also sets the precedent for others to do the same in the future. Stenograph’s pledge reflects an important virtue that is deeply embraced within the court reporting and captioning community.”

Breanne Alford was the winner of the Robert T. Wright Memorial Scholarship, named in memory of the co-founder of Stenograph, son of Milton, and president until 1978, and awarded in partnership with Project Steno.  Applicants for this scholarship were required to submit an essay. Breanne’s winning essay addressed the role of technology in court reporting and captioning of the future. “It is an absolute honor to be the recipient of this scholarship,” said Alford. “I am thankful and in awe of Stenograph’s generosity! I appreciate all of the encouragement I’ve received from the Project Steno team and I can’t wait to start this journey.”

Project Steno’s executive director, Nancy Varallo, said, “The board of Project Steno would like to thank Stenograph for their generosity and leadership. We depend on support from each stakeholder in our community to boost the numbers of graduates entering the profession. We know we have a partner in Stenograph supporting our goals.”

“Stenograph is proud to support this scholarship and we are thrilled to be able to assist such a worthy candidate in achieving her goal of becoming a professional stenographer,” said Star Levandowski, Vice President of Corporate Strategy.