07/10/2026
ARRL The National Association for Amateur Radio¿ is pleased to announce that
member Ben Leovy, KC3ZPQ, of Ellicott City, Maryland, has been named the winner
of the 2026 ARRL Student Coding Competition. Leovy, 16, recently completed his
sophomore year at Howard High School. He designed a mobile application to help
users prepare for their amateur radio license examinations.
Leovy will receive a $5,000 prize awarded by ARRL. His project was selected by a
panel of judges based on usability, clarity, stability, and code quality. The
judges also recognized his enthusiasm for software development and creativity by
awarding him a new MacBook Neo to encourage his continued exploration of
programming and technology.
"The ARRL Student Coding Competition was created to encourage young radio
amateurs to apply their skills to a real-world opportunity that will benefit the
amateur radio community and future entrants," said ARRL Senior Director of
Marketing and Innovation Bob Inderbitzen, NQ1R. "Ben's project demonstrated the
kind of problem-solving skills and creativity that will help shape the future of
amateur radio."
The judges were also impressed with the strength of Leovy's technical approach
and the potential value of continuing its development. ARRL has offered him a
consulting project this summer, to further refine and improve the application in
collaboration with ARRL employees - an opportunity to gain professional
experience. Upon successful completion of the project, Leovy will earn an
additional $5,000. He will also be eligible for a $5,000 ARRL scholarship when
he enrolls in college after high school.
"I'm excited about the opportunity to continue improving the application and
working with ARRL," said Leovy. "I hope it helps more people, particularly
students my age, to get involved in amateur radio and to join ARRL."
Leovy became interested in amateur radio through his grandfather and through
friends involved with the scouts who shared an interest in the hobby. In
addition to amateur radio and programming, Leovy participates in his school's
robotics club and enjoys exploring technology through hands-on projects.
The ARRL Student Coding Competition was launched in January 2026 as part of
ARRL's ongoing commitment to developing the next generation of radio amateurs.
The competition encouraged ARRL Student members ages 21 and younger, who already
have ham radio licenses, to combine their interests in amateur radio and
software development.
"Programs like this help young people discover that amateur radio is more than a
hobby - it is a pathway that inspires hands-on, practical, and technical
experiences," said ARRL CEO David Minster, NA2AA. "By investing in students and
their ideas, ARRL is investing in the future of amateur radio."
The competition is another ARRL program intended to develop student interest in
future education and careers in STEM/STEAM fields. Other ongoing initiatives
include the ARRL Teachers Institute on Wireless Technology, the ARRL Collegiate
Amateur Radio Program, and the ARRL Foundation Scholarship Program.
The competition judges were ARRL First Vice President Kristen McIntyre, K6WX;
Hudson Division Director Ed Wilson, N2XDD; previous Director of Education and
Learning Steve Goodgame, K5ATA; ARRL VEC Manager Maria Somma, AB1FM; and
Education & Learning Support Specialist Max Freedman, N4ML. Additional support
was provided by past Pacific Division Director Anthony Marcin, W7XM.
Since 2024, ARRL Student Membership has been free for full-time students ages 21
and younger. This no-cost membership opportunity makes it easier for students to
become involved in amateur radio and access ARRL resources while they explore
radio, technology, and STEM-related learning opportunities.
For more information about ARRL Student Membership, visit
www.arrl.org/student[1].
[1] https://arrl.informz.net/z/cjUucD9taT0zNjc1NDg3JnA9MSZ1PTUyNTgxODI4NCZsaT00M
zc5MzkxMw/index.html
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