USA Scholarships
Partial Funding Undergraduate Florida the USA

Wayne Nelson KB4UT Memorial Scholarship 2027 - $1K

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

The Wayne Nelson, KB4UT, Memorial Scholarship 2027 honors a Central Florida amateur operator through the ARRL Foundation. One $1,000 scholarship supports a US citizen with any active FCC license who maintains at least a 3.0 GPA and studies a technical field at an accredited four-year college or university. ARRL gives preference to hams in Orange, Seminole, Osceola, Lake, Volusia, Brevard, and Polk Counties, then to licensed operators elsewhere in Florida when no qualified Central Florida applicant is available. File the general ARRL Foundation application on Kaleidoscope, upload transcripts with the same submission, and select this memorial fund in your scholarship list. 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.

One award per year
$1,000
Technical major
4-year
Expected deadline
1 Feb 2027
Florida preference
Central FL
How to apply Am I eligible? Official website

What is the Wayne Nelson KB4UT Memorial Scholarship?

Wayne Nelson, KB4UT, left his call sign on an ARRL Foundation scholarship that still backs Florida hams studying technical subjects at four-year schools. The dollar amount is modest next to full-tuition national prizes, yet the geographic preference is real: Central Florida counties go first, and the rest of Florida follows if reviewers need a wider pool.

KB4UT sat in Orlando-area club life for years, and the Orlando Amateur Radio Club still names an amateur-of-the-year honor after him. If you volunteer with HamCation, emcomm nets, or youth licensing classes in the I-4 corridor, say so plainly in your Kaleidoscope answers instead of hiding behind generic leadership bullets.

Citizenship and GPA gates are strict. ARRL wants a 3.0 on your most recent academic record and proof that you are pursuing engineering, computer science, or another technical major at a bachelor-granting campus. Two-year programs and non-technical majors belong in other funds.

February 1 is the traditional close date for ARRL Foundation files. Request transcripts early, keep your call sign current in ULS, and stack this application beside Florida-friendly awards such as the Second Chance Foundation Scholarship if you want another regional option in the same season.

Who can apply

Eligibility

Your progress 0 / 6
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    US citizenship
    Applicants must be US citizens. ARRL lists citizenship as a hard requirement for the Wayne Nelson memorial fund.
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    Active FCC amateur radio license
    You must hold any current FCC-granted amateur radio license when you apply. License class is not limited to General or Extra for this award.
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    Central Florida or Florida preference
    ARRL gives first preference to licensed hams in Orange, Seminole, Osceola, Lake, Volusia, Brevard, and Polk Counties. If no suitable Central Florida applicant is found, preference shifts to hams from anywhere in Florida.
  • ✓
    Technical field of study
    Your major should fall in a technical discipline as described on the live ARRL scholarship page, such as engineering, computer science, or related STEM programs.
  • ✓
    Four-year accredited institution
    You must attend an accredited four-year college or university. Two-year or technical-only programs do not match the published institution rule.
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    Minimum 3.0 GPA
    Demonstrate at least a 3.0 cumulative GPA on a 4.0 scale in high school or in your most recently completed undergraduate year. Reviewers rely on your transcript for confirmation.
What you get

Benefits

  • Cash scholarship $1,000 one-time
  • Number of awards One KB4UT 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
What to prepare

Document checklist

Documents gathered 0 / 6
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    ARRL Foundation Kaleidoscope application
    Create or sign in to the ARRL general scholarship program on apply.mykaleidoscope.com when the 2027 cycle opens. Select the Wayne Nelson, KB4UT, Memorial Scholarship along with any other ARRL funds you qualify for in one submission.
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    Official academic transcript
    Upload a transcript covering your entire high school career to date or every college semester for which grades have posted. Graduate applicants follow the live portal rules for prior study.
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    FCC license verification
    Enter your call sign accurately in the application. KB4UT was a Florida call, and reviewers expect a valid ticket tied to your applicant profile.
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    Financial and contact details
    Provide the mailing address ARRL should use, your school name, and the bursar office that will receive the award if you win.
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    Essay or activity responses
    Answer every open-ended prompt with specifics about your amateur radio service, technical coursework, and career goals. Central Florida club ties can strengthen a tie-breaker file.
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    Optional club officer letter
    Some ARRL scholarships require a recommendation from a sitting officer of an ARRL-affiliated club. Read the live Wayne Nelson description each year; if no extra letter is listed, you do not need one.
Step by step

How to apply

Review whether your home county falls in the Central Florida preference list or elsewhere in Florida before you spend time on essays.
Make sure your admit letter or current enrollment reflects an accredited bachelor-degree program in a technical field named on the live ARRL page.
Request PDF transcripts from your registrar or high school counseling office. ARRL rejects packages missing transcripts uploaded with the initial submission.
Visit arrl.org/scholarship-program for the live link when applications open, usually in late October. Check the Wayne Nelson memorial fund in your scholarship selections.
Wayne Nelson was active in Central Florida ham circles. Mention Orlando-area club service, HamCation volunteering, or public-service nets when those details apply to you.
Upload documents inside the portal and click submit at least a day early. ARRL states that late or incomplete applications are not considered.
Recipients are typically notified in late spring with checks mailed to schools in July. Check the email tied to your Kaleidoscope account through June.
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
Florida applicants finalize transcripts, essays, and Kaleidoscope selections before the annual winter close.
1 Feb 2027
Expected deadline for completed ARRL Foundation applications, including the Wayne Nelson KB4UT memorial fund.
Spring 2027
ARRL Foundation Scholarship Committee reviews eligibility and selects recipients across all named funds.
Late Spring 2027
Winners notified by email through Kaleidoscope; non-selected applicants may receive status updates in the portal.
Jul 2027
Award checks mailed directly to recipients accredited schools for the upcoming academic term.
Questions

FAQ

What is the Wayne Nelson KB4UT Memorial Scholarship?

It is a $1,000 undergraduate scholarship administered by the ARRL Foundation in memory of Wayne Nelson, KB4UT. The fund supports US citizen hams pursuing technical study at accredited four-year colleges, with preference for Central Florida operators.

Who is eligible for the Wayne Nelson KB4UT Memorial Scholarship?

You need US citizenship, any active FCC amateur license, at least a 3.0 GPA, enrollment in a technical field, and attendance at an accredited four-year school. ARRL gives geographic preference to Central Florida counties, then to other Florida residents.

How much is the Wayne Nelson KB4UT scholarship worth?

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

When is the Wayne Nelson KB4UT 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 Wayne Nelson KB4UT Memorial Scholarship?

File the unified ARRL Foundation application on Kaleidoscope linked from arrl.org/scholarship-program. Upload transcripts with the form and select the Wayne Nelson memorial fund in your scholarship list.

Do Hawaii residents qualify for the Wayne Nelson KB4UT scholarship?

ARRL assigns Florida geographic preference to this memorial fund, not Hawaii residency. Licensed operators in Central Florida or elsewhere in Florida should apply; students outside Florida should look at other ARRL geographic awards instead.

Can I apply with a Technician-class license?

Yes. ARRL lists any active amateur radio license class for the Wayne Nelson memorial scholarship, unlike some funds that require General or Extra privileges.

When are Wayne Nelson KB4UT 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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Always verify scholarship details on the official source before applying. Information on this page may change.

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