Horizon Application And Recipients

THE PURPOSE: THE HORIZON SCHOLARSHIP FUND is organized for the purpose of sponsoring educational and scientific projects pertaining to the art of manual or mechanical verbatim reporting by the use of shorthand symbols, with particular emphasis on training and education, and study in the advancement of the art of shorthand reporting.

Now Accepting Applications for 2025

 

The application package consists of the application form and the supporting materials described below.  Incomplete applications will not be considered. All application forms and supporting materials must be submitted no later than 5pm, Wednesday, January 8, 2025.  Applications should be emailed to [email protected].

A one-time scholarship of $1,000, and six one-time scholarships of $500 each will be awarded, based upon scholastic achievement and other criteria established by the Horizon Scholarship Fund Committee.  Previous recipients are not eligible to apply.  Recipients and their respective schools will be notified by email on or before February 8, 2025.  Funds will be disbursed directly to the school in the recipient’s name, to be utilized for tuition, books, and/or supplies. 

ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS
  • Enrollment in a licensed New York State court reporting school.
  • Attendance at day or night sessions, as provided through virtual, distance, or online learning, on a regular basis.
  • Qualification on a school-administered test of 150 words per minute with at least 95% accuracy, as evidenced by a letter from the school’s dean or your instructor.
  • Grade point average of at least “B,” as evidenced by a current certified school transcript.
  • Applicants are required to submit a personal essay under 200 words on what motivated them to enter court reporting school and how becoming a stenographer will improve the quality of their life.
  • Must register for classes for the Spring 2025 semester.

RECIPIENTS:
2024
Gillian Hassert (Alfred State College)
Kara Joseph (Plaza College)
Danielle Magniccari (Plaza College)
Nasren Miah (Plaza College)
Heather Onaler (Plaza College)
Paula Andrea Rojas (Plaza College)
Alexandra Simon (Plaza College)
Gabrielle Van Patten (Alfred State College)

2023
Stephanie Beauchamp (Plaza College)
Sinead Curran (Plaza College)
Kathryn Delap (Plaza College)
Nicholas Koithan (The Stenographic Institute of WNY)
Nicholas Liberto (The Stenographic Institute of WNY)
Melanie McGuirk (Plaza College)
Hana Mokonuma (The Stenographic Institute of WNY)
Nicole Swanson (Plaza College)

2022
Maria Avendano (Plaza College)
Adrianna Filc (Plaza College)
Kailtin Halpin (Plaza College)
Faith Hasty (Plaza College)
Emily Lih (Plaza College)
Laurel Loh (Realtime Center for Learning)
Jana McEvoy (Plaza College)
Luisa Vertucci (Plaza College)
Audrey Zimmerman (Plaza College)

2020
Diane Chen (Plaza College)
Violeta Zagoras (Plaza College)
Nicole Edwards (Realtime Center for Learning)
Keli Lopez (Realtime Center for Learning)
Dana Schaaf (Alfred State College)

2016
Gabrielle Carletti (Realtime Center For Learning, Inc.)
Danielle Fetzer (Stenographic Institute of Western New York)
Leslie Pinzone (Stenographic Institute of Western New York)
Andrea Hobbs (Stenographic Institute of Western New York)
Lynette Latone (Stenographic Institute of Western New York)

2015
Stephanie Dietz (Realtime Center For Learning, Inc.)
Angela Collura (Stenographic Institute of Western New York)
Ashley Falcone (Stenographic Institute of Western New York)
Catherine Fallon (Stenographic Institute of Western New York)

2014
Katlyn V. Domagala (Stenographic Institute of Western NY)
Joseph Jacoby (New York School of Court Reporting)
Angela Maria Karakostas (New York Career Institute)
David Michael Rubenstein (NY School of Court Reporting)

2013
Aline Akelis (Realtime Center for Learning)
Lauren Catania (Business Informatics Center)
Victoria Douglass (Long Island Business Institute)
Ross Priel (New York School of Court Reporting)

2012
Jean Ajello (Long Island Business Institute)
Krystina Esposito (Business Informatics Center)
Jennifer Johnson (New York School of Court Reporting)
Heidi Roth (Stenographic Institute of Western New York)

2011
Bridget Abatecola (New York School of Court Reporting)
Debra Chapman (Long Island Business Institute)
Rose Finnegan (Long Island Business Institute)
Kimberly Pollock (Stenographic Institute of Western NY)
Kerrianne Retus (Long Island Business Institute)

2010
Janine M. Doran (Realtime Center For Learning)
Jade Fitzpatrick (Long Island Business Institute)
Marilyn Pasternak (New York School of Court Reporting)
Vivian Pérez (New York School of Court Reporting)
Sandra D. Philie (Long Island Business Institute)
Lesley Sze (Long Island Business Institute)

2009
Karen Cusumano (Realtime Center For Learning)
Stacey DeWyer (Stenographic Institute of Western New York)
Tinkerbelle Dougherty (Long Island Business Institute)
Susan Madlinger (Long Island Business Institute)
Tina Morena (Long Island Business Institute)
Carole Slattery (New York School of Court Reporting)

2008
Christina Fernandez (Business Informatics Center)
Kevin Gruebel (Long Island Business Institute)
Ellyn Guttenberg (Long Island Business Institute)
Jeanne Meldrin (New York School of Court Reporting)
Faith Pitino (Long Island Business Institute)
Ellen Prunella (New York School of Court Reporting)
Jaime Strible (Stenographic Institute of Western New York)
Rebecca Trexler (Alfred State)

2007
Nicole Barbaro (Business Informatics Center)
Lindsey L. DiBlasi (Stenographic Institute of Western New York)
Eileen Doyle (New York School of Court Reporting)
Melissa McNall (New York School of Court Reporting)
Jacquelyn O'Bannon (Stenographic Institute of Western New York)
Jessalynn Santos (Long Island Business Institute)
Ingrid B. Villa (Long Island Business Institute)

2006
Jessica Bergener (New York School of Court Reporting)
Leeann Bertorelli (New York School of Court Reporting)
Linda Caso (Long Island Business Institute)
Miranda Joe (Long Island Business Institute)
Denise Philipps (Long Island Business Institute)
Raymond Rogener, Jr. (New York School of Court Reporting)
Brian Sylvester Long Island Business Institute)
Peter Toth (Long Island Business Institute)

2005
Robert F. Abhold (New York Career Institute)
Dana Cassese (New York School of Court Reporting)
Theresa L. Clark (New York School of Court Reporting)
Michele D’Agostino-Huertas (Long Island Business Institute)
Deborah Delelys (Stenographic Institute of Western New York)
Melissa Dhalle (Stenographic Institute of Western New York)
Michelle E. Elak (Long Island Business Institute)
Patricia A. Galas (Stenographic Institute of Western New York)
Alica Hall (Long Island Business Institute)
Eduardo Lamela (New York School of Court Reporting)
Jennifer Mink (Long Island Business Institute)
Tammy A. Piccola (Monroe Community College)
Joann Rubin (Long Island Business Institute)
Lauren Russo (Business Informatics Center)
Christine Slovak (Long Island Business Institute)

2004
Nina Crescenzi (New York School of Court Reporting)
Melody Hanna (New York School of Court Reporting)
Rita Hozias (New York School of Court Reporting)
Donna Priani (Long Island Business Institute)
Sara Simonovits New York School of Court Reporting)
Meredith Stoeckel (New York Career Institute)
Anne Wood (New York School of Court Reporting)

2003
Monica Bullaro (Stenographic Institute of Western New York)
Margaret DeJesus (Business Informatics Center)
Barbara Romano (Business Informatics Center)
Nicole Thomas (Business Informatics Center)
Jennifer B. Satalino (Long Island Business Institute)
Kelly A. Cory, (Stenographic Institute of Western New York)

2002
Summer Boyd (Long Island Business Institute)
Georgia Harter (Stenographic Institute of Western New York)
Lisa Mantassa (Long Island Business Institute)
Amy Mitrovits (Stenographic Institute of Western New York)
Mary Jo Moonan (Monroe Community College)
Nechama Newhouse (New York Career Institute)
Larissa Smith (Stenographic Institute of Western New York)

2001
Denise Alvarado (Business Informatics Center)
Kristi E. Hatt (Long Island Business Institute)
Joseph Pontillo (Long Island Business Institute)
Sheila Trachtenberg (New York Career Institute)

2000
Susan Albrecht, Cheektowaga
Erika Arminio, Medford
Margalit Bushkina, Brooklyn
Marshzette Gilmore, Yonkers
James W. Kelly, Rochester
Marcy Manna, Little Neck
Shavon Mincy, Bronx

1999
April Pearl Schirm, Greenwich, CT
Allison A. Grant, Brooklyn
Cynthia Rodden, Cobleskill
Linda J. Randall, Tonawanda

1998
Danielle Cannizzo, Centrereach
Wai Ping Chang, New York
Linda G. Falco, Whitestone
Diane V. Salters, West Hempstead
Nina E. Schmidt, Manhasset

1997
Daniel Barnett, Far Rockaway
Judith A. Brenner, Williamsville
Karen L.Costello, Ravena
Laurie L. Degais, Woodmere
Verna Miller-King, Brooklyn
Lynette Mohan, Babylon
Christine A. Soldan, Tarrytown
Victoria A. Torres, Brooklyn

1996
Anne Marie Murphy-Ambrose, Yonkers
Michael L. Berger, Glencove
Lieng Boua, Flushing
Shauna C. Corbett, Rochester
Cynthia Gross, Castleton
Francesca Manna, Baldwin
W. Scott Nezich, Catskill
Lisa A. Peterson, Orchard Park

1995
Marcia Chung, Wantagh
Margaret Eddy, Ronkonkoma
Marjzena Hermanowski
Francesca Palazzolo, S.I.
Lauro Pinto, Cold Spring Harbor
Michelle A. Theurer, Brooklyn
Arthur Vidro, Mineola

1994
Dore R. Handy, Syosset
Mary G. Logan, Stewart Manor
Eric Fuchsman, Seaford
Cynthia Manual, Amityville
Barbara Papa, Rockville Centre
Tammy Pierce, Brentwood
Katherine Reilly,Greenlawn
Laurie Rothberg, Central Islip
Elaine Thompson, Jamaica

1993
Gloria Maria Alvarado, Bronx
Eleanor Ferraro, Baldwin
Leslie Haszinger, Coram
Gayle R. LaCascia, Freeport
Dina Rashkin, Stony Brook

1991
Dawn S. Miller, Rotterdam

Horizon Origin

The Horizon Scholarship was originally conceived by Donald J. White during his term as NYSCRA President (1985-87). Ideas continued to be formulated under President Charles Foster, his successor. They matured into a viable program in 1989, under the leadership of President Felicia A. Biase, when she appointed Mr. Foster to chair a committee to implement a scholarship for court reporting students. 

This was a major undertaking and took two years to accomplish. Among other things, it involved filings with NY State for corporate (Horizon Scholarship Fund, Inc.) and 501(c)(3) status so that donations could be claimed as a charitable deduction. 
Invaluable pro bono assistance was received from a lawyer who worked with the law firm representing the Association of Surrogate and Supreme Court Reporters. 

Felicia Biase, then a staff reporter for the Kings County Surrogate’s Court, also conducted legal research in the law library of her court and received assistance from retired Surrogate Nate Sobel. 

The NYSCRA Executive Committee and Board of Directors ultimately chose the name “Horizon Scholarship Award” in order to signify that success is on the horizon for the students receiving the award. 

The first grants were made in 1991, just as President Biase was concluding her term of office.

“The Horizon Scholarship Fund is organized for the purpose of sponsoring educational and scientific projects pertaining to the art of manual or mechanical verbatim reporting by the use of shorthand symbols, with particular emphasis on training and education, and study in the advancement of the art of shorthand reporting.”