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Amateur radio: Estes Park Middle School students will compete next week



Each year, the American Radio Relay League (ARRL) conducts two International Roundup contests for School Amateur Radio clubs. For the past five years, Estes Park Middle School students have participated in the contest. They will again participate in the Feb. 9-12 Roundup. Winners are based on the number of points a club makes during the contest. It is a worldwide contest, and over the years Estes Park Middle School students have moved up the ranks of winners. This past October, EPMS students placed fourth in the middle school category.


The February 2026 Roundup begins Monday, and students will participate through Thursday. The contest is held in the school’s Radio Room at the Estes Park Memorial Observatory, 1600 Manford Ave. In any given contest, approximately 60 Middle School students are “on the air” making contacts with ham radio operators throughout the world. Here in Estes Park, students will be “on the air” from 8 a.m. to approximately 3:15 p.m. at the observatory.


Students welcome visitors to come and witness their skills and competitive nature. Family members as well as the general public, elected officials, faculty and administrative members are welcome and encouraged to visit the operation in action. Simply put, anyone with interest is extended an invitation to visit.


The “on the air” program is in cooperation with the Estes Park Middle School and the Estes Valley Amateur Radio Club. On the middle school staff, Ms. Ravi Davis was the originator of this cooperative program five years ago. At the time, she was a middle school science instructor. Her current role is teaching STEAM (Science Technology Engineering Arts Math) classes, and she has been joined by Alex Jizba, new this year as a science instructor. Several other school employees offer a hand and lend their skills to this project. Come see the students in action. Who knows? One of them might be your son/daughter or a relative.


 
 
 
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