Husky Amateur Radio Club Participates in International School Club Roundup

Houston, Texas, Oct. 28, 2025 - The Husky Amateur Radio Club (HARC) at Houston Christian University took part in the American Radio Relay League's (ARRL) School Club Roundup last week on Wednesday, Oct. 22, and Thursday, Oct. 23.

The School Club Roundup, an international amateur radio event held twice a year, is hosted by the ARRL in partnership with the Long Island Mobile Amateur Radio Club. The event is designed to promote on-air activity among student radio clubs and introduce young people to the world of amateur radio. Students of all levels-from elementary to university-have the opportunity to make contact with other school clubs and amateur radio operators worldwide.

Throughout the week-long roundup, student clubs used amateur (ham) radio to exchange call signs, locations, and signal reports, logging contacts across the globe using voice, CW (Morse code) and digital modes. The activity not only encouraged friendly competition and technical learning but also fostered global connections and community service preparedness through radio communication.

"I am really proud of our engineering and computing students showing initiative around amateur radio, which remains vital for emergency communications. Amateur radio presents opportunities for projects to be done by our students outside the classroom while reinforcing the engineering and computing fundamentals they learn in their courses," said Dr. Katie Evans, Dean of the College of Engineering and Science.

Aidan Kainer, president of the Husky Amateur Radio Club, described the event as "one of the most exciting times of the year" for the organization. The event enables members to strengthen their collaboration and technical skills while inspiring their curiosity.

"Every time we participate, we learn something new about communication and the technology that makes long-distance contact possible," said Aidan, an HCU senior, who is pursuing a degree in electrical engineering with plans to enter the aerospace field. "It's an exciting and unique way to represent HCU and show what our organization is capable of."

Kyrah Johnson, a sophomore studying computer science, valued the opportunity to take part in the semi-annual event.

"For me, it helped build confidence as I made my first-ever contacts with several operators over the air on Thursday," shared Johnson, who plans to pursue a career in game development to combine her interests in art and programming.

The Club's participation aligns with HCU's mission to provide hands-on, real-world learning opportunities for members. Students operated licensed amateur radio equipment, learning to manage live communications, log contacts, and handle signal propagation challenges-all critical skills for both engineering careers and emergency communication scenarios. During the week, club members successfully connected with radio operators across the globe, including contacts in Madeira Island (off the coast of Africa), Scotland, and Canada.

Certificates of participation and achievement are awarded to schools based on their performance. Winners in each category (elementary, middle school, high school, college/university, and club or individual) are recognized by the ARRL for the total number of contacts made and logged during the contest period. Awards provide an extra incentive for students to develop their radio skills, teamwork, and operating strategies.

For more information about the School Club Round Up and upcoming announcements on various competition rankings, visit https://www.arrl.org/school-club-roundup.

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About Houston Christian University

For more than 60 years, Houston Christian University has equipped students to lead, collaborate, and embody a deep sense of spiritual purpose. The University offers a wide range of majors, undergraduate, graduate and doctoral degree programs, as well as NCAA Division I athletics in the Southland Conference. Located in the heart of one of the nation's largest metropolitan centers, HCU's culture of excellence molds the next generation of educated disciples to be pillars in their communities, preparing them to think critically and biblically as they impact the world.