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 Previous: The K7RA Solar Update |  Next: Surfin': Hamming on the Road Again |
NEWINGTON, CT, Mar 21, 2003--The ARRL Executive Committee has approved 10 new schools for the ARRL Amateur Radio Education and Technology Program, popularly known as "The Big Project." The EC took the action during its March 15 meeting in Irving, Texas.
 Marlington High in Alliance, Ohio, has been approved as a pilot school for the ARRL Education and Technology Program. [Marlington School District Photo] |
"That takes us to a total of 50 schools," said ARRL Education Project Coordinator Jerry Hill, KH6HU, who added that the 10 additional schools already have been notified and are officially on board. "I'm pleasantly surprised, because we never expected to be able to fund this many schools this fast. It shows the great passion within the Amateur Radio community to introduce ham radio to the youth of America."
Hill said that when the program was launched in 2001, the original plan was to approve 12 schools the first year and another dozen in 2002. "We just weren't sure about the money and the level of interest, but it's mushroomed to twice what we figured." he said. "I'm elated that we were able to get the program going in 50 schools. It's really great!"
The approved schools include Allendale High School, Allendale, Michigan; Coronado Middle School, Coronado, California; James B. Castle High School, Kaneohe, Hawaii; Jamesville-DeWitt Middle School, Jamesville, New York; Marlington High School, Alliance, Ohio; Newington High School, Newington, Connecticut; Silver Stage High School, Silver Springs, Nevada; South Davie Middle School, Mocksville, North Carolina; Southern Baptist Educational Center (SBEC), Southaven, Mississippi; and Webster Intermediate School, Webster, Texas.
 Students at DePaul Catholic High in Wayne, New Jersey, pore over material from the ARRL Education and Technology program. (L-R) Front row: Darwin Angeles, KC2KYV; Jim Ponnwitz, KC2KYP; Dennis Marion, KC2KYS; Ingrid Velmonte, KC2KYQ; Monica Toledo, KC2KYR; Kristine Diaz, KC2KYT. Back row: Daniel DiMartino, KC2KYU and Ingrid Velmonte, KC2KYQ. [Carver Washburn, W2TFM, Photo] |
Hill said the schools will now select their equipment and should have complete stations on campus before school is out in June. With the equipment on site, teachers can finalize planning for the 2003-04 school year. A local ham radio club in Mississippi is set to help run the program at SBEC as an after-school program, while the group at Castle High in Hawaii has expressed a particular interest in satellite communication.
At Webster Intermediate School in Texas, the youngsters will have the unique opportunity to learn from Nick Lance, KC5KBO, who trains US astronauts in Amateur Radio technology.
 At University High School in Spokane, Washington, Danny Poppe, KD7TIR (left), and Dan Adams, KD7TIP, work with new hand-held transceivers donated by local ham Gary Webbenhurst, AB7NI. [Steve Lelonde, WA7WKX, Photo] |
The ARRL Amateur Radio Education and Technology Program employs ham radio to enhance student learning through the application of mathematical and scientific concepts. The project emphasizes integration of math, science, writing and speaking, geography, technology and social responsibility within a global society. While getting students licensed is not a primary goal of the program, participating schools have generated many new, young Amateur Radio operators.
The ARRL developed the program to encourage teachers who may not be aware of the educational potential of Amateur Radio to use ham radio in their lessons. In addition to a complete curriculum, the program resources include a classroom bookshelf of ARRL technical manuals, an on-line sourcebook, an interactive Web site and a complete Amateur Radio station.
A new round of Big Project application
approval and funding will get under way in November.
| Previous: The K7RA Solar Update | Next: Surfin': Hamming on the Road Again |
