It has been many months since I've written the Youth@HamRadio.Fun column for your reading enjoyment. Where have I been? Hitting the books, studying hard for my degree in electrical engineering. Although this semester's classes aren't super hard, they have so far required more of a time commitment than any other semester so far. My school days have literally been from 8 AM until 1 AM--all to keep the grades up as I near graduation.

While this is really not a purely Amateur Radio topic, I'd like to pass along some advice to my fellow students: Undoubtedly, you've already heard it from your mother and father, your relatives, perhaps an older friend and your teachers. Now you'll hear it from the biggest fan of all youth in Amateur Radio: School comes first!

Amateur Radio offers nothing but fun. It allows you to talk all around the world, participate in fun activities and help your community. For sure it's one of my few "true loves" in life, and it has been ever since I obtained my first license at age 12. Hours and hours of time can be spent tuning up and down the bands to make memorable contacts, locating hidden transmitters, checking into nets and helping our with ARES groups and clubs.

As wonderful as ham radio can be, we young amateurs still in school need to remember that our number-one responsibility is getting through school with super grades. Our success in school can determine our success in life. School success can mean the difference between being able to attend college and grasp your dreams, or settling for something less. It also can spell the difference between an enjoyable, well-paying job that will support a future family (and our awesome hobby), or a job that offers few rewards--monetary and otherwise.

Bottom line: Strive to do your absolute best! Good grades are your responsibility--no one else's. Focus on your studies; you only have one chance in school. Ham radio will wait patiently with open arms on those free weekends and for that time when you get through walking down that aisle to claim your high school diploma and college degree. I guarantee it.

And with that, I'm back!

20-Meter HF Net in the Works

Nathan Smith, KC0LCS, who hails from Hallsville, Missouri, would like to set up a net on 20-meter for young amateurs, and he's written ARRL requesting help in getting the word out. I'm happy to help him. This would be an excellent opportunity to meet new people, share your interests and talk about expanding your fun on the air by getting more youth involved in Amateur Radio!

An 11-year-old General-class ticket holder, Nathan would like to see more youth activity on HF and hopes this net is one way to encourage it. His idea is to schedule the net to start at around 3:30 PM Pacific Time (that's 6:30 PM Eastern Time) every Thursday on 14.340 MHz. This would be an excellent time for a net, as all young Amateurs should be finished with their school day by that time, and it will be close to the end of the week, where homework might not be as much of a worry about.

If you are interested in joining this net, tune in on your next available Thursday afternoon. For more information, e-mail Nathan or drop him a note via snail mail to Nathan Smith, KC0LCS, 12200 Route B, Hallsville, MO 65255.

He invites suggestions regarding new/additional net sessions as well as times, days and frequencies to make this net even better! He would be thrilled to hear from you.

I enjoy receiving suggestions (such as Nathan's), comments and questions in the mail or e-mail that deal with youth in Amateur Radio. Get in touch with me and say hello! I look forward to meeting you.

Free Money for School!

I've already talked about the importance of school. Now let me tell you about how you can get free money to pay for your tuition, books and more if you are a college student! Several Amateur Radio academic scholarships are available, and time is of the essence to apply for them. Pay special attention to application deadlines.

· The Foundation for Amateur Radio Inc (FAR) offers 62 scholarships for the 2002-2003 academic year, ranging from $500 to $2500 to help cover college costs. If you are an Amateur Radio operator enrolled in--or accepted to--an accredited university or technical school as a full-time student, apply now! For more information and an application, send a letter or QSL card postmarked prior to April 30, 2002, to FAR Scholarships, PO Box 831, Riverdale, MD 20783.

· The Dayton Amateur Radio Association (DARA) offers scholarships of up to $2000 for the 2002-2003 academic year for any licensed Amateur Radio operator graduating from high school this year. For an information packet, send a SASE to DARA Scholarships, c/o Gary Des Combes, N8EMO, 9873 Lower Valley Pike, Medway, OH 45341, or e-mail Gary n8emo1@msn.com. The application deadline is June 1, 2002.

Young Ham of the Year Deadline Nears

Nominations are open for the Amateur Radio Newsline Young Ham of the Year Award for 2002. Created in 1986, the award recognizes one young radio amateur under the age of 18 in the continental US for his or her contributions to society through Amateur Radio.

If you know of a young ham age 18 or younger who has accomplished something really special in, through or using Amateur Radio, now is the time to nominate that person. Does your radio club have a youngster who has been an outstanding member? How about that quiet young ham who is always willing to volunteer in public service events? The Young Ham of the Year Award is one way to guarantee that there will be a next generation of ham radio leaders. By taking time to nominate a worthy youngster, you help insure the future.

Nominating someone for YHOTY is simple. Nominating forms and additional information are available at the Amateur Radio Newsline Web site. All nominations and materials required by the official rules must be received by Amateur Radio Newsline before May 30, 2002.

That's a Wrap!

That's all for this month! Study hard, as summer will be here before we know it, giving us a great amount of time to have fun on the air. In the meantime, pull some of your friends at school aside and introduce them to the hobby you love! Show them what you can do with your ham ticket, where you've talked to, and perhaps invite them over to your shack to make a contact or two on their own!

Editor's note: ARRL Life Member Brian Mileshosky, N5ZGT, hails from Albuquerque, New Mexico. A 21-year-old senior in electrical engineering at the University of New Mexico, he was the 1999 ARRL Hiram Percy Maxim Award winner as well as the 1997 winner of the Newsline Young Ham of the Year Award. He was first licensed in 1992 at age 12 and holds an Amateur Extra class license. Brian enjoys CW, QRP transmitter hunting, satellite operation, digital modes and, of course, just speaking into the microphone. He's active in the Boy Scouts of America as an assistant scoutmaster and a Vigil Honor member of the Order of the Arrow. Brian welcomes visitors to his Web site. Readers may contact him via e-mail, n5zgt@arrl.net.

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