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September 29, 2011

ULM CBA students earn amateur radio licenses

Six University of Louisiana at Monroe College of Business Administration students earned their technicians class amateur radio licenses Saturday, Sept. 17.

Kayla Laney of West Monroe, Paul Boquet of Monroe, Jerrod Jackson of Monroe, Jan Oglesby of Monroe, Steven Burney of Monroe, and David Reeves of West Monroe attended "HamCram" sessions Sept. 16 - 17.

During the two-day event, participants were taught the basics of amateur radios, electricity, electrical circuits, radio wave propagation, antennas, radio operating regulations, and electrical and mechanical safety.

Once the instruction was finished, each passed a written examination to obtain their licenses.

Amateur radio licenses are issued by the United States Federal Communications Commission to those who pass the technician, general or amateur extra class examination. Each student will receive a paper copy of their license in the mail sometime during the month of October.

After their licenses appear in the U.S. FCC online Universal License System, the students will be able to transmit using the radio frequencies available to those holding a technician class license.

Dr. Paul D. Wiedemeier, ULM associate professor of computer science, holds the amateur extra class amateur radio license KE5LKY and attended the "HamCram" sessions to support the six students.

"I am proud of Kayla, Paul, Jerrod, Jan, Steven, and David for obtaining their amateur radio licenses.

While amateur radio is often a fun, carefree and social activity, licensed amateurs provide communication during emergencies and natural disasters."

Laney, Boquet, Jackson, Oglesby, Burney, and Reeves joined Rachel Downs of West Monroe, Terri O'Banion of Pineville and Aaron Miyahira of West Monroe, who received their technician class amateur radio licenses in March 2011, as members of the newly formed ULM Amateur Radio Club.

For more information about the ULM Amateur Radio Club or how to obtain an amateur radio license, contact Wiedemeier at wiedemeier@ulm.edu or 318-342-1856 or by visiting the club's Web site at www.cs.ulm.edu/~pdw/ULMARC.

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