School controls the lives of many young people, but believe it or not, ham radio and school are sometimes related.

Rebecca Rich, KB0VVT, studies(!) for an AP biology exam while working the 2005 ARRL November Sweepstakes (CW). She's now a freshman at MIT, so studying while operating apparently worked for her.

A few columns ago, I asked students to contact me with their information. Thanks to all who responded and especially to those who responded to my request for more-detailed information. Student readers who responded to the survey represent 15 schools in 12 states, and not all of them are in the "youth" category. Let's work on representing the remaining 38 states. If you haven't already, be sure to drop me a line, and I'll mention you and your school in a future column. Of course, if you'd like to add a few comments about how you enjoy ham radio and/or school, we'll include those as well.

We heard from:

• Brian Humphreys, KC8RSA (General), sophomore, Ohio Northern University

• Bryce Salmi, KB1LQC (Amateur Extra), senior, Chelmsford (MA) High School

• Nicholas Esposito, KC2ONP (Technician), grade 8, New Providence (NJ) Middle School

• Ben Bass, KI4OEE (Technician), sophomore, Robert F Munroe Day School (FL)

• Lee Lininger, W7RLL (Technician), Centralia College (WA): Graduated from high school 44 years ago and now working on an associate degree in welding.

• Tanner Thompson, KC9JOC (Technician), grade 8, Zionsville (IN) Middle School

• Amber Butler, KI4LMW (Technician), Lagrange, Georgia

• Daniel Bradke, W2AU (Amateur Extra), senior, Niskayuna (NY) High School

• Alex Roberts, KD8EDR (Technician), junior, Parkersburg (WV) High School. His favorite subject is physics. Alex says he enjoys ham radio because he meets people who share his interests, and he ensures a balance between school and radio by making sure that school always comes first. Over the next 10 years, he feels that ham radio will increase in quantity but not necessarily in quality, since some of the more-experienced hams no longer will be around [huh? --Ed]. Also, he feels that as the test gets easier, "people may not have the true, deep desire to become hams." To involve more youth, Alex suggests presenting ham radio in an exciting way . . . not just as memorizing facts and rules, but by showing "what can really be done."

• Drew Murray, KI4RAH (Technician), grade 6, Prescott (TN) Central Middle School

• Keane Wolter, KD8AOZ (Technician), senior, Dexter (MI) High School (MI). His favorite subject is English, and he enjoys DXing on 2 meter FM. Keane says he's learned to balance school and radio by doing homework while talking on the radio(!) [my mother never let me do that -- Ed.]. He believes ham radio will grow in the next 10 years as licensing requirements continue to evolve. To get more youth involved, he suggests giving technology-related presentations at schools.

• Chris Williams, KE5FNX (Technician), junior, McNeil (TX) High School.

• William Lloyd Leslie, KC2FYY (Amateur Extra), junior, State University of New York Delhi College of Technology

• Rebecca Rich, KB0VVT (Amateur Extra), freshman, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (the winner of the 2004 ARRL Hiram Percy Maxim Memorial Award. See below)

• Tony Testa, KD8DVB (Technician), grade 5, Teays Valley (OH) Elementary School

Attention Students: Free Money for College!

The Foundation for Amateur Radio (FAR) offers several dozen scholarships for young radio amateurs pursuing higher education, 56 in all ranging from $500 to $3000 each. Awards range from $500 to $2500. Additional information and an application form is available by sending a letter or QSL card postmarked prior to April 30 to FAR Scholarships, PO Box 831, Riverdale, MD 20738. Visit the FAR Web site for details.

ARRL 2006 Hiram Percy Maxim Memorial Award

The Hiram Percy Maxim Memorial Award goes annually to a radio amateur under age 21. The award recognizes the recipient's accomplishments and contributions "of the most exemplary nature" to both the Amateur Radio community and the local community. These may include:

• Participation or leadership in organizational affairs at the local or national level (for example: local radio club, ARES, net control, participation in civic groups);
• Technical achievement (for example: built a radio, put up an antenna, etc);
• Operating record (for example: nets, disaster drills, contests, Sweepstakes, etc);
• Recruitment and training of new amateurs (for example: helped teach a license class, JOTA, etc);
• Public relations activities (for example: create a ham radio Web page).

The deadline for ARRL Section Managers to submit nominations for the 2006 Hiram Percy Maxim Memorial Award is March 31. Maxim co-founded the ARRL with Clarence Tuska in 1914.

To nominate a deserving candidate, submit by March 31 a completed nomination form, supporting information, the endorsement of ARRL-affiliated clubs and elected or appointed League officials to your ARRL Section Manager (SM), who makes the formal nomination. There is no limit to the number of nominations an individual or club may submit to an SM, and SMs may nominate more than one individual.

Nomination forms and supporting information should document as thoroughly as possible the Amateur Radio achievements and contributions of the nominee during the previous calendar year. Additional information concerning the accomplishments and activities of the nominee should be as complete as possible. ARRL must receive all supporting documentation by April 15. An award panel reviews the nominations and selects the winner.

So, make your SM aware of any youthful radio amateurs who have distinguished themselves through their activities. HPM Memorial Award winners receive a cash award of $1,500, and an engraved plaque.

For more information, contact Mark Spencer, WA8SME; 530-495-9150.

The 2007 Amateur Radio Newsline Young Ham of the Year Award

Amateur Radio Newsline is accepting nominations for its 2007 Young Ham of the Year (YHOTY) Award, sponsored by Amateur Radio Newsline, Vertex-Standard USA and CQ Communications. The YHOTY goes each year to a radio amateur aged 18 or younger, who's a resident of the US or Canada and who has provided outstanding service to the nation or community or contributed to the betterment of the state of the art in communication through Amateur Radio.

Nominate that special young radio amateur either via snail mail or by filling out the online nomination form. Nominations and associated documentation must be received by May 30. The YHOTY Web site includes information on the award's history, a list of past winners, nomination forms and more.

Applications forms also are available for a self addressed stamped envelope mailed to the Young Ham of the Year Award c/o Newsline, 28197 Robin Ave, Santa Clarita, CA 91350.

School Club Roundup (SCR)

These students at the Clarence Cannon Amateur Radio Club's K0KID in Missouri, where they operated School Club Roundup 2006 as K0Z using borrowed equipment. The school club has since received an equipment grant under the ARRL Education and Technology Program, also known as "The Big Project."

Matt Melachrinos, KB3JJV sports his "Know Code" shirt to celebrate his recent upgrade to general.

Ricky Martinez, KD8EYO (right), enjoys operating when he can, now that he has his Amateur Radio license. [Photo courtesy of Dick Renaud, W8KDR]

Almost upon us: The annual School Club Roundup (SCR) is just around the corner: Monday through Friday, February 12-16. Schools, clubs and individuals are encouraged to participate in this fun, youth-oriented operating event. Details are on the ARRL Web site (click on SCR, above). Please share your School Club Roundup experiences with me for a future column.

Congratulations to . . .

• 13-year-old Matt Melachrinos, KB3JJV, who upgraded to General on November 20. Licensed since May 2003, Matt is a member of the EPA QRP club and enjoys kit-building, 6 meters and HF.

• Pete Coppola, N3QY, who is sporting a new call sign after upgrading to Amateur Extra.

• The New Providence Amateur Radio Club in New Jersey, which got ham radio some positive public exposure. The Courier News featured a nice story about their Kid's Day event. This group had an exciting year, including an ARISS contact with astronaut Jeff Williams, KD5TVQ, at NA1SS aboard the International Space Station. The club's youth will be marching in a Memorial Day Parade this spring and carrying the club's banner. Keep up the great work!

• Nina Gajjar, a young lady who lives in India, on using ham radio as a subject for school science projects. She's not yet licensed but obviously well on her way. Visit her Web site see some of what she's done (and keep in mind that she discusses Amateur Radio licensing requirements as they exist in her country).

• Boy Scout Troop 787 on a successful Jamboree On The Air (JOTA) operation. Visit the troop's Web site to see what else they have done.

• Ricky Martinez, KD8EYO, who received his Technician ticket on January 10 and has already made a bunch of contacts. Kudos to parents Rick, W8RCM, and Katy Martinez, KD8EFS, on getting him interested.

Remember to . . .

• Try the ARRL Youth Sked Database to set up on-air schedules with other young hams.

• Visit the North American Youth Net (NAYN) voice net on Fridays from 23:00 to 2330 UTC on 14.329 MHz and the NAYN PSK net on 14.075 MHz (near 1500 Hz) Sundays at 2300 UTC.

• Check into the World Wide Youth Net (WWYN) Saturdays, 1900 UTC, on 21.305 MHz.

• Try the Young Amateur Echolink Net (YAEN) by checking in with net control, Michael Braun, N3CA, on the WASH_DC Conference server, node 6154, on Fridays at 9:00 PM Eastern.

New to Amateur (Ham) Radio?

• Explore the Web site (this one!) of ARRL--the National Association for Amateur Radio.

• Take practice Amateur Radio tests on the QRZ.com or eHam.net Web sites.

• Read previous Youth@HamRadio.Fun columns.

• Find a local radio club.

• Attend a local hamfest (Amateur Radio convention).

But most of all, get involved. No excuses!

Final Comments

I trust you've all had a great beginning to the now not-so-new New Year, and I know that it will be a great year, full of youth activities everywhere. As always, feel free to contact me with youth-related news and photos. I'd love to hear your stories.

Editor's Note: Seventeen-year-old Extra-class operator and ARES member Andrea Hartlage, KG4IUM, resides in Grayson, Georgia. Her Amateur Radio activities include public service, kit building, hamfesting, and operating SSB, CW and digital modes. Amateurs with youth-related news and photos are invited to contact Andrea via e-mail with the subject line "Youth Column."

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