USA Scholarships
Albert H. Hix Memorial Scholarship 2027 - $500 WV
The Albert H. Hix, W8AH, Memorial Scholarship 2027 honors a West Virginia amateur operator through the ARRL Foundation, the charitable arm of the American Radio Relay League. One $500 scholarship goes to a licensed ham who qualifies for the Hix geographic pool: residency in the ARRL West Virginia section plus attendance at an accredited college or university in that section. Published summaries require a General-class license or higher, a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or better, and an active FCC ticket at the time you apply. You file through the unified ARRL Foundation online application on Kaleidoscope, upload transcripts with the form, and list every scholarship you want the committee to consider. The 2026 cycle is closed; for 2027-2028 study, plan on a late-October 2026 opening, a February 1, 2027 deadline, late-spring notification, and July disbursement to your school bursar.
What is the Albert H. Hix Memorial Scholarship?
Albert H. Hix, W8AH, left his call sign on a small ARRL Foundation scholarship that still backs West Virginia hams paying for college. The dollar amount is modest compared with national STEM prizes, yet the geographic filter is strict: you must live in the ARRL West Virginia section and take classes at a school inside that same section. That keeps the pool narrow and rewards operators who stay tied to local clubs and repeaters.
ARRL bundles more than 170 donor funds into one winter application. Checking the Hix box tells the committee to judge your file against other Mountain State applicants who already passed the license and GPA gates. General-class status matters because the published eligibility summaries tie this memorial fund to operators who cleared the middle tier of the amateur exam structure.
If you are still on Technician privileges, plan a VE session early in the fall so your ULS record updates before you upload transcripts. The same Kaleidoscope login also lets you opt into scholarships with no geographic limit, such as the ARRL General Fund, but only select funds you genuinely qualify for so reviewers see a clean, honest list.
February 1 is the traditional close date, which lands in the middle of spring semester crunch time. Request registrar PDFs in January, keep your essay focused on how you use amateur radio in campus or community service, and compare deadlines with other partial awards like the Gen and Kelly Tanabe Scholarship if you want a second national application in the same season.
Eligibility
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✓Active FCC amateur radio licenseYou must hold a current FCC-granted amateur radio license when you apply. ARRL lists General class or higher for the Hix memorial fund, and every ARRL Foundation applicant must be an active licensed operator.
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✓ARRL West Virginia section residencyThe Hix scholarship is limited to residents of the ARRL West Virginia section. ARRL publishes a geographic table on arrlhq.org that maps each named award to its section or state.
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✓College in the West Virginia sectionYou must attend an accredited postsecondary institution located in the same West Virginia section, whether that is a community college or a four-year university. Out-of-state campuses do not qualify even if you keep a WV home address.
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✓Minimum 3.0 GPAMaintain at least a 3.0 cumulative GPA on a 4.0 scale. ARRL reviewers use your transcript to confirm grades through your most recently completed term.
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✓Undergraduate enrollmentThe award supports students working toward an associate or bachelor degree at an accredited school. Graduate students should read each scholarship description inside the portal because some ARRL funds exclude advanced study.
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✓Complete online application packageSubmit the Kaleidoscope form before the deadline with transcripts attached in the same session. ARRL will not review incomplete files or transcripts emailed separately after the close.
Benefits
- Cash scholarship $500 one-time
- Number of awards One Hix recipient per cycle
- Payment method Mailed to your school bursar
- Eligible expenses Applied to accredited college costs
- Renewal Not renewable
- Ham gear or exam fees Not included
Document checklist
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✓ARRL Foundation Kaleidoscope applicationCreate or sign in to the ARRL general scholarship program on apply.mykaleidoscope.com when the 2027 cycle opens. Select the Albert H. Hix, W8AH, Memorial Scholarship along with any other ARRL funds you qualify for in one submission.
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✓Official academic transcriptUpload a recent high school, GED, or college transcript that covers your full academic record to date. If you are already in college, include every semester for which grades have posted.
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✓FCC license verificationEnter your call sign and license class accurately in the application. Keep a copy of your FCC license or ULS record handy in case the committee asks for confirmation.
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✓Financial and contact detailsProvide the mailing address ARRL should use, your school name, and the bursar office that will receive the award if you win. Double-check spelling because checks go directly to the institution.
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✓Optional club officer letterSome ARRL scholarships require a recommendation from a sitting officer of an ARRL-affiliated club. Read the live Hix description each year; if no extra letter is listed, you do not need one for this fund.
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✓Essay or activity responsesAnswer every open-ended prompt in the portal with specifics about your amateur radio service, academics, and plans. Generic copy weakens your file against other WV operators.
How to apply
Deadline and timeline
FAQ
What is the Albert H. Hix W8AH Memorial Scholarship?
It is a $500 undergraduate scholarship administered by the ARRL Foundation in memory of Albert H. Hix, W8AH. The fund supports licensed amateur radio operators who live and attend college in the ARRL West Virginia section.
Who is eligible for the Albert H. Hix Memorial Scholarship?
You need an active FCC amateur license at General class or higher, residency in the ARRL West Virginia section, enrollment at an accredited postsecondary school in that section, and at least a 3.0 GPA. Two-year and four-year students may apply.
How much is the Albert H. Hix scholarship worth?
The Hix memorial award pays $500 as a one-time scholarship. ARRL mails the check to your school rather than to your personal address.
When is the Albert H. Hix Memorial Scholarship deadline?
ARRL Foundation scholarships historically close on February 1 each year. For the 2027-2028 academic year, expect the same deadline after the portal opens in late October 2026.
How do I apply for the Albert H. Hix W8AH Memorial Scholarship?
File the unified ARRL Foundation application on Kaleidoscope linked from arrl.org/scholarship-program. Upload transcripts with the form and select the Hix scholarship in your scholarship list.
Do I need a ham radio club recommendation for the Hix scholarship?
Only some ARRL funds require a letter from an ARRL-affiliated club officer. Read the live scholarship description each cycle; if Hix does not list that requirement, your transcript and application answers suffice.
Can I apply if I attend college outside West Virginia?
No. The Hix fund requires both residency and attendance within the ARRL West Virginia section. Students at out-of-state campuses should look at other ARRL geographic awards instead.
When are Albert H. Hix Memorial Scholarship winners announced?
ARRL notifies scholarship recipients in late spring after committee review, with award checks typically mailed to schools in July. Monitor the email on your Kaleidoscope account for updates.
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