USA Scholarships
Partial Funding Undergraduate the USA

Harry A Hodges W6YOO Scholarship 2027 - $1,000

Deadline February 1, 2027 (expected; portal opens late October 2026) 135 days left · Hosted by ARRL Foundation · Published

The Harry A. Hodges, W6YOO, Scholarship 2027 remembers a San Diego-area amateur through the ARRL Foundation. One $1,000 scholarship goes to a licensed high school senior who is a U.S. citizen and can point to hands-on radio activity, from emergency communications and kit building to scouting or community radio projects. ARRL lists geographic preference for San Diego County, California, widening to the rest of California only when no qualified San Diego County applicant is available. Technician class or higher satisfies the license gate, and any accredited postsecondary program in the United States qualifies. File the shared ARRL Foundation Kaleidoscope application, upload transcripts with the form, and select Hodges among the funds you genuinely match. The 2026 cycle is closed; for 2027-2028 study, plan on late-October 2026 opening, February 1, 2027 deadline, June notification, and July checks to schools.

One award per year
$1,000
High school → college
Senior
Expected deadline
1 Feb 2027
Preference, then CA
San Diego CA
How to apply Am I eligible? Official website

What is the Harry A Hodges Scholarship?

Harry A. Hodges, W6YOO, left his call sign on an ARRL Foundation scholarship that still backs young hams paying for trade school, community college, or a four-year degree. The award is only $1,000, yet the story requirements are specific: you need a Technician ticket or higher, documented radio service, and either strong grades or a credible turnaround narrative with two adult advocates.

Geography matters in a softer way than a hard section lock. ARRL tells reviewers to favor San Diego County first, then the rest of California if the county pool comes up empty. That does not mean operators in other states should ignore the form if they meet every other gate, but California seniors with real emcomm or build experience should treat Hodges as a top checkbox on the Kaleidoscope list.

Because Hodges accepts Technician privileges, you can apply while you are still stacking toward General. Use the essay space to show what you actually do on the air or on the bench, not just the license card in your wallet. The same winter deadline covers dozens of other ARRL funds, so pair Hodges with awards that fit your state, such as the Albert H. Hix Memorial Scholarship for West Virginia section residents or the Tom and Judith Comstock Scholarship for Texas and Oklahoma hams.

February 1 lands right as second semester ramps up. Pull transcripts in January, confirm your ULS entry shows the right class, and submit early enough that upload glitches do not cost you a seat in the San Diego preference pool.

Who can apply

Eligibility

Your progress 0 / 6
  • ✓
    Active FCC amateur radio license
    Hold a valid Technician-class or higher amateur radio license when you apply. ARRL requires every Foundation applicant to be an active licensed operator.
  • ✓
    U.S. citizen high school senior
    You must be a United States citizen completing high school during the application cycle. The Hodges fund targets seniors heading into postsecondary study, not students already enrolled full time in college.
  • ✓
    San Diego County or California preference
    ARRL gives first preference to applicants from San Diego County, California. If no qualified San Diego County applicant is identified, preference shifts to applicants elsewhere in California. Others may still apply through the unified form, but the committee weighs geography as published on arrl.org.
  • ✓
    Strong academics or documented turnaround
    Perform at a high academic level, or show how you turned an at-risk path around with at least two recommendations from counselors or teachers explaining the change.
  • ✓
    Radio service or technical activity
    Demonstrate interest in amateur radio through emergency communications, equipment construction, community radio service, scouting radio merit work, or similar on-air or build experience.
  • ✓
    Accredited U.S. postsecondary plan
    Plan to attend any accredited college, university, junior college, or trade or technical school in the United States. Field of study is open.
What you get

Benefits

  • Cash scholarship $1,000 one-time
  • Number of awards One Hodges recipient per cycle
  • Payment method Mailed to your school bursar
  • Eligible institutions Any accredited U.S. college or trade school
  • Renewal Not renewable
  • Ham exam or gear costs Not included
What to prepare

Document checklist

Documents gathered 0 / 6
  • ✓
    ARRL Foundation Kaleidoscope application
    Sign in to the ARRL general scholarship program on apply.mykaleidoscope.com when the 2027 cycle opens. Select the Harry A. Hodges, W6YOO, Scholarship and any other ARRL funds you qualify for in one submission.
  • ✓
    Official high school transcript
    Upload a transcript covering your full high school record to date. ARRL will not review packages missing transcripts uploaded with the initial submission.
  • ✓
    FCC license verification
    Enter your call sign and license class accurately. Keep your ULS record current so reviewers see Technician privileges or higher before the deadline.
  • ✓
    Counselor or teacher recommendations (if at-risk path)
    At-risk youth applicants need at least two recommendations from counselors or teachers describing how and why you turned your academic or personal situation around.
  • ✓
    Radio activity summary
    Use essay prompts and activity fields to spell out emergency net work, club projects, kit builds, or scouting radio involvement. Vague claims without examples weaken your file.
  • ✓
    College acceptance or enrollment proof
    Be ready to show acceptance at or enrollment in an accredited postsecondary program if the live application asks for it during the senior-year cycle.
Step by step

How to apply

Open arrl.org/scholarship-descriptions and confirm San Diego County and California preference language before you invest time in essays.
Schedule a VE session early if you still need Technician privileges. Hodges accepts Technician class or higher, unlike some ARRL funds that require General.
List nets, public service events, kits you built, and club leadership. Tie each example to skills you will carry into college or a trade program.
Request your registrar PDF and, if you are telling an at-risk turnaround story, line up two counselor or teacher letters that match ARRL wording.
Use the link from arrl.org/scholarship-program when the portal opens. Check Hodges plus any other funds you match geographically and academically.
Upload every required document inside the portal and submit at least a day early. ARRL discards late or incomplete files.
Recipients are typically notified in June with checks mailed to schools in July. Watch the email on your Kaleidoscope account through early summer.
When

Deadline and timeline

Application deadline
February 1, 2027 (expected; portal opens late October 2026)
135 days left
Oct 2026
ARRL Foundation scholarship portal expected to open for the 2027 cycle, following the late-October pattern used in prior years.
Nov - Jan 2027
Seniors finalize transcripts, license upgrades, radio activity essays, and recommendation letters before the winter close.
1 Feb 2027
Expected deadline for completed ARRL Foundation applications, including the Harry A. Hodges, W6YOO, Scholarship.
Spring 2027
Scholarship Committee reviews eligibility across all named funds, weighing San Diego County preference for Hodges.
Jun 2027
Winners notified by email through Kaleidoscope after committee decisions.
Jul 2027
Award checks mailed directly to recipients accredited schools for the upcoming academic term.
Questions

FAQ

What is the Harry A Hodges W6YOO Scholarship?

It is a $1,000 ARRL Foundation scholarship honoring Harry A. Hodges, W6YOO. The fund supports U.S. citizen high school seniors with an amateur license and meaningful radio activity who plan accredited postsecondary study.

Who gets preference for the Hodges scholarship?

ARRL gives preference to applicants from San Diego County, California. If no qualified San Diego County applicant is found, preference moves to other California residents. The published description still allows the unified application for eligible hams nationwide.

What amateur radio license do I need for Hodges?

You need a valid FCC-issued Technician-class license or higher when you apply. General or Extra privileges also qualify.

How much is the Harry A Hodges scholarship worth?

The award pays $1,000 as a one-time scholarship. ARRL mails the check to your school rather than to your home address.

When is the Harry A Hodges scholarship deadline?

ARRL Foundation scholarships historically close on February 1 each year. For the 2027-2028 academic year, expect the same deadline after a late-October 2026 portal opening.

Can at-risk students apply for the Hodges scholarship?

Yes. ARRL allows high-performing students or at-risk youth who turned their path around. At-risk applicants should submit at least two counselor or teacher recommendations explaining the turnaround, plus radio activity examples.

Does the Hodges scholarship require a specific college major?

No. Any field of study is eligible as long as you attend an accredited college, university, junior college, or trade or technical school in the United States.

When are Harry A Hodges scholarship winners announced?

ARRL typically notifies recipients in June after committee review, with checks mailed to schools in July. Monitor your Kaleidoscope email through early summer.

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