James Stephen Greenwood Memorial Scholarship Fund

Purpose: To provide college scholarships to high school seniors and to students currently enrolled in accredited two-year or four-year colleges and universitieis who hold current Amateur Radio operator licenses.

The Greenwood Scholarship Committee has awarded nearly $500,000 in scholarships to students at all levels of higher education, including college undergraduates, Master’s programs, Doctoral programs and Postdoctoral studies over its initial five years of existence.

Given the continued and increasing popularity of the Greenwood Scholarships, the scholarship committee felt it was time to re-evaluate the criteria used to make the awards. As such, criteria for the 2025-2026 school year Greenwood Scholarships is more rigorous than in prior years. 

The application period for the 2025-2026 Greenwood scholarships will be from May 1, 2025 through July 6, 2025.

It’s anticipated that the Greenwood Scholarship committee will review applications and make awards by approximately August 1, 2025. It’s anticipated that award checks to educational institutions will go out soon thereafter.

The number of scholarships awarded, and the award amounts, will be based on the earnings of the Greenwood Scholarship endowment.

Priority in the award of scholarships will be given to students who are or will major in science, technology, engineering or math disciplines (“STEM Applicants”).

If any scholarship funds are left after awards to STEM Applicants, the remaining funds will be allocated in the order of the class of an Amateur Radio applicant’s license with priority being given first to Extra Class license applicants, then to General Class license applicants and lastly to Technician Class license applicants.

Scholarships will only be awarded to applicants that meet requirements.

Once the annual scholarship funds are exhausted, no further awards will be made for that calendar year

No applicant is guaranteed a scholarship

The decisions of AARC as to the award of scholarships are final.

Scholarships are for the exclusive use of the scholarship winner to be applied to tuition, books, fees and other educational expenses.

Awarded scholarships will be dispersed to the scholarship winner’s college of choice for use by the scholarship winner.

Austin Amateur Radio Club, Inc. does not discriminate based on race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, disability, marital status, military status or any other characteristic protected under applicable federal or state law in the award of scholarships.

1. At the time of their application:
   1. be classified as a senior in a school accredited by the Texas Education Agency
   2. reside, and have resided for at least one complete school year, in an Austin-area high school (Travis County, or one of the six adjoining counties: Bastrop, Blanco , Burnet, Caldwell, Hays, or Williamson)
   3. hold an Amateur Radio operators license issued by the Federal Communications Commission
   4. be a U.S. citizen, or within three months of becoming a U.S. citizen, proof required (Copy of U.S. passport or copy of U.S. civil issued birth certificate) 
2. Be a member of the Austin Amateur Radio Club (AARC) during the term of the scholarship grant. (Join here)
3. Be a member of the national ham radio organization, the Amateur Radio Relay League (ARRL) during the term of the scholarship grant. (Join here)
4. Must be active in Ham Radio*
5. Must have no criminal record and be of good moral character
6. Preferences will be given to high school applicants ranked in the top 5%-10% of their class

* Activity in Ham Radio can be demonstrated in any number of ways, including copies of paper logbook entries, electronic logbook entries such as Logbook of the World (LOTW), showing at-least monthly QSO activity. In addition, membership in a school club, being a club officer or being an active member of an Emergency Communications organization such as Travis County ARES. Proof of active membership in any club or organization is required.

It’s anticipated that the most successful Greenwood Scholarship applicants this year will not only have their Ham license of any level, like in prior years, but also show increasing progress in the Ham service/hobby over the years.

For example, if you held a Technician class license last year, have you upgraded to a General license? If you held a General license have you upgraded to Amateur Extra? Are you an active member of your local club? Have you been elected to an officer position in their club? Have you participated in Ham contests? Field Days? How about other Ham activities such as sporting event Ham support?

Have you earned awards such as WAS (Worked All States)? Have you activated a location such as a National Park (POTA) or an unusual geographic location? Have you helped provide support for a bike race, such as the MS150? Have you participated in any of the other myriad Ham activities, such as OSCAR which is literally out of this world? The possibilities in Ham radio are endless, so get out there, and let us know what you’re up to!

1. Requirements for college students mirror those of high school students, mentioned above.
2. Undergraduate and graduate students are both eligible to apply.
3. Preferences will be given to college students ranked in the top 10% of their class.
4. While there is no required GPA for first time applicants, returning applicants must have a minimum 3.0 GPA on a 4.0-point scale.
5. As with high school students, activity participation in the Ham Radio hobby/service is emphasized. See the suggestions above.

This application will only be open from May 1, 2025 through July 6, 2025, so be sure to apply during that time period.

Greenwood Scholarship Application for the 2025-2026 school year.