Gadsden State Community College Realtime Reporting program turns 30 this year.
The Gadsden State Community College Court Reporting program started its first class in 1974. Marie Whitaker is to be thanked for that. Mrs. Whitaker read about available funds to start court reporting programs and thought it sounded interesting. The then Gadsden State Junior College applied and received those funds. With lots of hard work from the first director, Robert C. Miller, along with Mrs. Whitaker, the first class started in 1974.
When the program first started, it only took 20 new students each fall. The program had state-of-the-art equipment - IBM Selectric typewriters and manual machines. Wow!
During the past 30 years, a lot has changed. Mr. Miller moved on in 1981 to become a law professor in California. Deanna K. Johnson was hired in 1982. She worked diligently to make sure the program continued its current NCRA standards and has been a major cornerstone in helping ACRA become what it is today. Ms. Johnson retired in the spring of 2004.
Each fall, 30 to 35 new students start the program. As far as equipment, computers, SRT 400s, and paperless writers line the walls of each classroom. The original two classrooms have now grown to four. Of those classrooms, two are computer labs, a moot-court room, and a captioning lab which is composed of laptop stations and six fully-equipped captioning studios.
It is no longer known as "Court Reporting." A name change occurred last year due to the fact that there are different areas of specialization. Realtime Reporting takes the place of Court Reporting. Realtime Reporting covers judicial reporting, CART, and captioning.
Right not at Gadsden State Community College Realtime Reporting, there is a judicial and captioning program. Federal funds in the amount of $425,000 were received a few years ago to help start the captioning program.
Over these past 30 years, many students have come and gone. A few that were near and dear to us have passed from this life. To those we dedicate this article because they were the epitome of what this profession is all about: Cam Menzies, Steve Walker, and Danny Tyler.
There is no way to adequately express the thanks that Mr. and Mrs. Nickolas Menzies deserve. During the past 20 years, they have touched many students' lives by the generous scholarships given in memory of their daughter Cam.
Also, this article would not be complete without mentioning the first graduate of the program, Gloria Inman, official court reporter in Etowah County. Gloria helps us with our internship program. She is always willing to lend a helping hand in any way possible.
There are so many memories and special students that have touched us here at Gadsden State Community College during the past 30 years that this could go on and on.
It has been an exciting 30 years. What will the next 30 hold? Congratulations Gadsden State Community College Realtime Reporting.