Over the last few years interest in the start up STEM program has grown and only recently students were able to begin sending their signals from the newly constructed permanent high frequency station.

The school broke ground on the new station in late July and were able to install the tower for use by students this fall.

Students have practiced remote and emergency communication.

District Superintendent Don Mook said many people in the community helped support the STEM program available to both middle and high school students through monetary and equipment donations.

Columbiana High School Principal Jeff Jackson (left) and Superintendent Don Mook (far right) present a Key Clipper award to Richard Sell and Ginny Perkins, representing the Columbiana Community Foundation, for its $5,000 donation to the new amateur radio program.

“Tens of thousands of dollars have been donated as well as time and equipment to provide our schools with state of the art radio equipment,” he said.

The equipment includes high frequency base station amateur radio transceiver, high frequency triband transceiver, high frequency antennas and Federal Communications Commission capabilities.

Members of the radio program made a presentation to the board of education this month, and said that the new station and equipment was an investment of the school and community worth roughly $50,000, including labor.

The club’s future plans include seeking Amateur Radio Digital Communications grants, home radio kit building, travel and scholarship opportunities, and contests.

The board of education honored those who played a role in the success of the program through the presentation of Key Clipper awards during the board meeting.

Columbiana High School Principal Jeff Jackson (left) and Superintendent Don Mook (right) presented a Key Clipper award to Scott Dunn of RAA Data for the company’s work in constructing the new amateur radio tower for the school, supplying free labor for the project.

“All of these awards are people who have come together as a community to support a start up Radio and Electronics STEM program at Columbiana High School and South Side Middle School,” Mook said.

Awards were presented to high school Principal Jeff Jackson, teacher Colleen Campbell, parent and Columbiana Police Department officer Wade Boley, Kelly Williamson and her husband Michael, representing the Fairfield Ruritans, Richard Sell and Ginny Perkins of the Columbiana Community Foundation, Scott Dunn of RAA Data, Jake Giesy of Tri County Tower, Rick Graft, of Graft Electric, and Scott Jones and Mark Ludwick of DX Engineering.

Columbiana High School Principal Jeff Jackson (left) and Superintendent Don Mook presented Jake Giesy of Tri County Tower with a Key Clipper award for the company’s donation of low loss Heliax Coax wire needed for the new amateur radio tower.

Columbiana High School Principal Jeff Jackson (left) and Superintendent Don Mook (right) presented Rick Graft of Graft Electric with a Key Clipper award for the company’s donation of equipment, time and material for the amateur radio program.

Columbiana High School Principal Jeff Jackson (left) and Superintendent Don Mook (far right) presented Scott Jone sand Mark Ludwick of DX Engineering with a Key Clipper award for the company’s nearly $15,000 donation toward the K8LPS Clipper Radio Club project.

Columbiana High School Principal Jeff Jackson(left), teacher Colleen Campbell and Superintendent Don Mook. Campbell was awarded Key Clipper for her involvement in the new amateur radio program available to students.