2005 Goldfarb Memorial Scholarship winner Tim O'Donnell, AB2LE.
2005 Goldfarb Memorial Scholarship winner Tim O'Donnell, AB2LE. |
NEWINGTON, CT, May 6, 2005--An 18-year-old high school student from New York is the winner of the William R. Goldfarb Memorial Scholarship for 2005. The ARRL Foundation announced the selection Tim O'Donnell, AB2LE, a student at Cobleskill-Richmondville High School on April 29.
"Tim was the top student in a pool of extremely well qualified applicants this year," said ARRL Foundation President Tom Frenaye, K1KI. "He's going to do well in any field of study he chooses!"
ARRL Foundation's Scholarship Committee Chairman Tom Comstock, N5TC, echoed Frenaye's comments. "After individually examining several dozen applications, each member of the scholarship committee had Tim as their first choice to receive this prestigious award," Comstock said. "He is one of the `brightest and best' in our nation."
First licensed at age 12, O'Donnell--the son of John O'Donnell and Marilyn Janiczek--holds an Amateur Extra class license. He is an ARRL member and active on 20 meter SSB--using a backyard dipole he built with his father--who's KC2HHC--as well as on 2 meters. Tim's 12-year-old sister Genie is also a ham--KC2MRY.
Tim's dad says his son was introduced to ham radio by neighbor Phil Tracy, NM2P, who has been very supportive over the years.
O'Donnell's strong academic resume includes a number-one class ranking and numerous honors such as National Merit Scholarship semifinalist, Coca-Cola Scholars Program semifinalist, University of Rochester Bausch & Lomb Science Award, the Cobleskill Masonic Chemistry Award, Regents Scholar, Scholet Sequential Math Prize, Konta Memorial Award in Biology and the WRGB-TV Capital Kid award for volunteerism.
His community activities involvement in the Chamber of Commerce, ACCORD (A Community Committee on Respect and Diversity), and St Vincent de Paul Church. O'Donnell plans to attend Brown University in the fall, majoring in computer science with an eye on a future as an entrepreneur, researcher and systems architect/developer.
Comstock notes that the annual competition for the Goldfarb scholarship is intense. "Obviously a young person must be highly intelligent and have good grades," he said. "However, involvement in extracurricular activities, including public service and, of course, Amateur Radio is important, and demonstrated leadership skills are crucial. Tim O'Donnell exceeds the criteria to receive this scholarship in every respect."
The William R. Goldfarb Memorial Scholarship is intended to assist a qualified student to obtain a bachelor's degree at an accredited school in one of the following courses of study: business-related computers, medical or nursing fields, engineering or sciences. The four-year award to an active radio amateur is based on outstanding qualifications, need and other funding sources.
The Goldfarb Scholarship is the result of a generous endowment from the late William Goldfarb, N2ITP. Before his death in 1997, Goldfarb set up a scholarship endowment of close to $1 million in memory of his parents, Albert and Dorothy Goldfarb.
More information on the Goldfarb Scholarship is available on the ARRL Web site. Applications for the Goldfarb Scholarship and other ARRL Foundation Scholarship applications are accepted each year beginning October 1 and ending February 1 for the academic year that starts the following August/September.
The 2004 winner of the William R. Goldfarb Memorial Scholarship was
Jonathan Krenzel, KC0AMG, of Leoti, Kansas.
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