University of Scranton Students ‘Tear Down Borders’ Through Amateur Radio

By Cassidy Lowman ’27, Student Correspondent

Hard work really does pay off, as clients from the Lackawanna Blind Association and students from The University of Scranton learned earlier this month.

Two University students, Liam Miller ’29, a physics major from Honesdale, and Owen Ruzanski ’28, a computer engineering major from Shohola, recently presented the clients with plaques commemorating their exciting achievement of earning amateur radio licenses.

The students were among faculty and community members of the W3USR radio club who regularly volunteered, beginning more than two years ago, when five clients began working toward their licenses at the nonprofit’s office at 228 Adams Ave.

All five clients have now earned their licenses, a process that includes taking a 35-question test. Clients had to score at least a 26 to pass.

Lackawanna Blind Association client Adam Williams, of Scranton, remembers the thrill he felt when he learned he passed his test.

“I think I jumped out of my chair when he said I scored a 32,” Williams said.

Nathaniel Frissell, Ph.D., and Christine Zakzewski, Ph.D., two University of Scranton faculty members involved in the program, said students and other W3USR club members volunteered weekly at the association. The members assisted with lessons covering nearly 20 different theoretical topics from The Courage Kenny Handiham Program, which provides resources for people with disabilities to learn technology skills and amateur radio.

The skills the clients learned from the Handiham Program assisted them in earning their amateur radio licenses and gaining authorization to transmit on the air. An important part of amateur radio is engaging with the community, and both Dr. Frissell and Dr. Zakzewski aim to do so through the University’s Community-Based Learning Program, which sponsors projects such as this.

Despite all five clients now having their licenses, University students will continue volunteering weekly. Future lessons will help clients put their new skills and licenses to use and integrate them into the amateur radio community.

Miller was introduced to W3USR through a class during his first year and was immediately drawn to how vast the radio community is. Miller assists the clients with lessons in FCC Rules, safety procedures, electromagnetic waves and the mathematical concepts needed to operate amateur radio equipment.

“I jumped right in because it sounded really cool,” Miller said. “It was an opportunity to communicate with folks around the world from all different cultures in a way that is different than social media. And I think it is really neat that, in a sense, this kind of tears down borders.”

Many clients had no prior experience with amateur radio before taking lessons with W3USR. This was the case for Marty McKeel, of Taylor, a client at the Lackawanna Blind Association who was looking for a challenge when he registered for the program.

As McKeel began his lessons with W3USR, his grandson also began to develop an interest in amateur radio. It made him feel accomplished knowing that he could share what he was learning with his grandson, McKeel said, and that pushes him to continue learning more.

“When I lost my vision and started coming to the Blind Association, I always kept looking for new things,” McKeel said. “How can I still feel like I'm accomplishing something and helping other people? That is when I decided this is what I needed to do.”