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 Previous: ARRL Board Names Award Winners |  Next: The Amateur Amateur: The HF Chronicles--Part Deux--or--So Many Knobs, So Many Buttons |
 Josh Abramowicz, KB3GWY, at Scout camp. |
LOS ANGELES, CA, Jul 24, 2002--Josh Abramowicz, KB3GWY, of Reading, Pennsylvania, has been named the Amateur Radio Newsline Young Ham of the Year (YHOTY) for 2002. The YHOTY Award is presented annually to a radio amateur age 18 or younger who has provided outstanding national or community service or improved the state of the art in communications through Amateur Radio. An Eagle Scout, Abramowicz, 17, was honored for promoting Amateur Radio to young people through his activities in the Boy Scouts of America.
"Amateur Radio and scouting have always had a close relationship, with many of today's most successful scientists, engineers and professionals beginning their careers as both Scouts and radio amateurs," said Award Administrator Bill Pasternak, WA6ITF, who edits and produces Newsline, a weekly Amateur Radio news program. Nominating Abramowicz for the YHOTY award was ARRL Senior Assistant Technical Editor Larry Wolfgang, WR1B, who's very active in the scouting program. Wolfgang became acquainted with Abramowicz at the National Scout Jamboree last summer.
Pasternak said the judging committee selected Abramowicz based on his work in promoting Amateur Radio to youth through the Boy Scouts. A General licensee and an ARRL member, Abramowicz is a rising senior at Central Catholic High School in Reading. He credits both the Boy Scouts and his parents--he's part of a ham radio family--with getting him interested in ham radio. His father, Mark, NT3V, is a news reporter/anchorman at KYW radio in Philadelphia. His mother, Suzanna, NZ3G, is a retired teacher. His 15-year-old sister Amy is studying for her ticket.
Although he'd been exposed to Amateur Radio for many years through his parents' involvement, it was not until was invited to serve on the K2BSA staff at the National Scout Jamboree at Fort A.P. Hill, Virginia, that his ham radio spark was ignited. He quickly earned his Technician ticket early last year, then buzzed through the Morse code and theory for his General license, which arrived only days before his departure for the Jamboree.
As a member of the K2BSA staff, Abramowicz helped demonstrate ham radio to many of the 35,000 Scouts attending the event. He also helped to train some 400 Scouts who earned Radio Merit Badges at the gathering. As a result of his demonstrated ability to connect with other scouts, he was selected to assist K2BSA in a scheduled contact with the International Space Station. Abramowicz said the successful space QSO was a highlight of his Jamboree experience.
Abramowicz was invited by Frankford Radio Club member Steve Dobbs, NE3F, to be part of a multi-single contest operation in the 2001 CQ World Wide DX Contest. After seeing Abramowicz's comfort level with the radio, antennas and logging program he turned Abramowicz loose to operate by himself. Dobbs later invited Abramowicz back to operate under his own call sign during the ARRL November Sweepstakes.
Abramowicz subsequently convinced the FRC to sponsor a Venture Crew--a scouting program for older youth, where each crew has a specific goal or mission. He then convinced the BSA Hawk Mountain Council leadership to use space in its new science center for a permanent Amateur Radio station, soon to become available to campers.
Abramowicz frequently shares his enthusiasm for Amateur Radio with his fellow Scouts. In May, he continued a Venture Crew recruiting drive at the Appalachian District BSA Camporee in Kempton, Pennsylvania, with an Amateur Radio demonstration that included getting other Scouts on the air.
The Amateur Radio Newsline Young Ham of the Year Award will be presented to Abramowicz August 17 at the Huntsville Hamfest. Corporate underwriters for the award include Vertex Standard USA (Yaesu) and CQ Magazine. As Young Ham of the Year, Abramowicz will receive an expense-paid trip to Huntsville plus a gift of Yaesu ham radio equipment, courtesy of Vertex Standard USA. CQ will treat Abramowicz to a week in SpaceCamp Huntsville as well as with a variety of CQ products. Amateur Radio Newsline will provide Abramowicz with a commemorative plaque, underwritten by Dave Bell, W6AQ.
The award
committee also named two runners-up. They are Evan Anderson, KC0CWP, of
Ashland, Nebraska, and Thomas Tenaglia, K3TAT, of W Chester, Pennsylvania. Both
will receive certificates of appreciation from the award sponsors.
| Previous: ARRL Board Names Award Winners | Next: The Amateur Amateur: The HF Chronicles--Part Deux--or--So Many Knobs, So Many Buttons |
