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 Previous: Surfin': Homebrewing, TAPR and the DCC |  Next: FCC Amateur Radio Enforcement Letters for the Period Ending September 1, 2006 |
By Andrea Hartlage, KG4IUM
Contributing Editor
September 3, 2006
The sweet success of youthful hams, and how you can get involved in several upcoming youth-related events.
One activity most young hams have in common around this time of year is either the dreaded or anticipated trek back to school. So, I'd like to take this opportunity to welcome all of you back to school and wish you the best of academic success this year. While I'm at it, I think it's a good idea to remind ourselves -- as my editor frequently does -- to always put school first -- as difficult as that may seem. Just the other day, I had to put off writing this column to study for an AP calculus test, and I think it may have paid off. So, remember, when you're faced with a similar dilemma, Amateur Radio will always be there patiently waiting, but there's typically only one chance to get an education.
I'd like to get a better idea of who reads this column, so if you're reading this and are in school now, send me a brief e-mail with your name, call sign (if you have one), school and grade. I'll post the results to this informal survey in the next youth column, so let's see how many schools we can represent!
 |
 Amateur Radio Newsline Young Ham of the Year Catherine Ferry, NC8F, on the air from a park near her home. |
Congratulations to 18-year-old Catherine Ferry, NC8F, of Silver Lake, Ohio on winning Amateur Radio Newsline's Young Ham of the Year (YHOTY) Award. A formal award presentation took place August 19 at the Huntsville Hamfest. Way to go, Cathy!
The daughter of Bruce Ferry, AK8B, and the late Joan Ferry, Cathy was first licensed in 1998 at age 10 and got her Extra when she was 13. There's more info about her on the YHOTY Web site.
The Anne Arundel Radio Club Jr recently announced the results of its Kid's Roundup Contest. Held for the third time in April, participation this year was better than ever. In the "L" category -- for young amateur licensees -- the winner was John Peters, KC9HLM, who scored most of his 4028 points via EchoLink. Claude Hanna, KO6RU, took home the plaque for the multi-op category, with 195 points. Finally, in the "U" category -- for unlicensed youth who operate under someone else's call sign -- Carmen Miranda, K4CRM, [any connection with the famous Brazilian actress of yesteryear is unclear --Ed] and kids won with 7035 points. Complete results are on the Anne Arundel Radio Club Jr Web site.
If you didn't get a chance to participate this year, put this contest on (or into) your calendar for next year. The event will take place April 21-22, 2007.
 Jordon, 8, calls CQ from the DAR station. "She has one of the nicest voices on the air," said Ed Engleman, KG8CX. |
"The W8PIF DAR call is reaching out to all areas of the country, with very positive results," said Ed Engleman, KG8CX, a volunteer at the station. A recent test session produced two new hams, and a newspaper article helped to expose the program to the community.
From ARRL Senior News Editor Rick Lindquist, N1RL: ARRL Youth Contributing Editor Andrea Hartlage, KG4IUM, recently was among the recipients of the 11 Alive & Junior League of Atlanta's "Kids Who Care Award," which came with a $1100 scholarship. She was among five young people in the metro-Atlanta area chosen to receive this award based on their community service activities.
As a result of this honor, Andrea got to discuss her involvement in Amateur Radio during a TV news piece that highlights her service and ham radio activities. Her dad Scott, KF4PWI, is in a few of the shots, as is a photo of the Dayton Hamvention 2006 "Youth Lounge," which Andrea oversaw and managed. And if you look really close, there's a quick still shot of Andrea and her predecessor as editor of this column ARRL Rocky Mountain Division Vice Director Brian Mileshosky, N5ZGT.
Andrea, 17, is a senior this year at Grayson High School in Grayson, Georgia. She's seriously considering pursuing an engineering degree at
Georgia Tech -- which she'll be checking out in September.
 With the help of Venturing Crew 73 Advisor Eric Wolf, KG4VPV (right), a Webelos Scout makes his first Amateur Radio contact during JOTA 2005 at K2BSA, the National Boy Scouts of America station at Camp Wisdom, Dallas, Texas. [Frank Krizan, KR1ZAN, Photo] |
Congratulations, Andrea. Good show!
Now . . . back to you!
It's that time again -- time for the Simulated Emergency Test (SET). Always held the first Saturday of October, it falls this year on October 7. The SET gives emergency communication groups a chance to test their capabilities in a realistic disaster drill. Basically, SET organizers develop some sort of imagined (but possible) and appropriate disaster scenario, and the Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES) volunteers respond accordingly.
If you are not already involved in your local ARES group, get in touch with your local ARRL Emergency Coordinator and volunteer your services Taking part in a SET can be an excellent learning experience, so consider participating this year. As with most aspects of Amateur Radio, there's no age restriction to participating in emergency communication.
Don't forget about Jamboree On The Air (JOTA)! It's coming up October 21-22. JOTA is an operating event in which Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts -- licensed or not -- try to contact as many other scouts as possible via Amateur Radio. If you participate, be sure to share your experiences with me.
Congratulations to . . .
 Newly licensed Brendan Jenquin, KD8ECU (left), and Quinn Haberl, KC9JYQ. [Ed Engleman, KG8CX, Photos] |
 Hunter Bellamy, KL2AA [Photo provided by Kimberly Carter] |
 Emily Bishop, W6EMB, at the Huntsville Hamfest with fellow MARS operator Steve Waterman, K4CJX. [Mike Bishop, NM9B, Photo] |
 Justin Kates, KB3JUV |
Remember to . . .
But most of all, get involved. No excuses!
Thank you for supporting this youth column. As always, article suggestions, pictures, questions and comments are welcome. After all, it's the readers that make this column what it is.
73 until next month!
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."
| Previous: Surfin': Homebrewing, TAPR and the DCC | Next: FCC Amateur Radio Enforcement Letters for the Period Ending September 1, 2006 |
