The ARRL Foundation Board of Directors has named Jacob Nunez-Kearny, KF7DSY, of Mesa, Arizona, as the recipient of the 2015 William R. Goldfarb Memorial Scholarship. A senior at Desert Ridge High School in Mesa, he plans to attend Purdue University in the fall and pursue a career in aerospace engineering. Based on qualifications, need, and other academic funding sources, the award can be $10,000 or greater. The Goldfarb Scholarship is awarded to an active Amateur Radio licensee who intends to pursue a bachelor’s degree in a business-related, computer, medical, nursing, or engineering field.

“I am really happy and honored to have received this scholarship,” Jacob told ARRL. “This scholarship means that I have opportunity to attend college with the knowledge that the community of hams believes in me. I imagine that all hams, especially ones young enough to qualify for this scholarship, are incredibly resourceful and intelligent, and so to be chosen out among them for this scholarship is a great honor.”

Jacob expressed his gratitude to his grandfather, Steve Kearny, KW7N, for introducing him to Amateur Radio. “If it weren’t for him I wouldn’t become a part of this great community and hobby,” he said. On his scholarship application, he said that Amateur Radio has piqued his interest in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics). “Through Amateur Radio I was able to turn theoretical learning into physical results,” he said. “The time I spent solving equations and making schematics turned into a contact with a person hundreds of miles away.”

In an effort to get a leg up on his career choice, Jacob has been involved in a senior year engineering design program, Project Lead the Way, and he earned 3 college credits through the Rochester Institute of Technology. The senior project, accomplished as a team, must address a real-world problem. Jacob came up with this year’s — a 30-foot portable “stealth” telescoping mast —    at his grandfather’s suggestion; Jacob lives in an antenna-restricted community. The team presents its project to a group of engineers.

Jacob is an active member and president of his high school’s Math Club. Advisor Marylin Bunger said Jacob loves to learn and, while very smart, also works very hard. According to Bunger, Jacob is a high-motivated, goal-oriented, “remarkable” young man who loves math and math theory.

Jacob also is president of the Engineering Club and a member of the National Honor Society, and he plays the viola in the school orchestra. He has operated ARRL Field Day with his grandfather and in the IARU HF World Championship event. Jacob joined the ARRL this year.

The William R. Goldfarb Memorial Scholarship is the result of a generous endowment from William Goldfarb, N2ITP (SK). Before his death in 1997, Goldfarb set up a scholarship endowment of close to $1 million in memory of his parents, Albert and Dorothy Goldfarb. It is awarded to one high school senior each year.