Call sign: KSLPS

Frequency of repeater: 444.7625 (to listen), 449.7625 (talk to repeater), PL code 162.2

All licensed amateurs welcome to use that repeater.

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Columbiana Middle School students Elise Campbell (KE8TYU), grade 8; Josh Henderson, grade 7; and Savannah Howard, grade 11 participate Tuesday afternoon in the February American Radio Relay League (ARRL)’s School Club Roundup event. Columbiana has one of only a handful of school districts that have amateur radio clubs in Ohio. (Photo by Stephanie Ujhelyi)

COLUMBIANA — Columbiana  is one of only a handful of Ohio school districts having an amateur radio station in the confines of its campus. 

Nestled in the back of high school science teacher Colleen Campbell’s classroom, amid taxidermy works and test tubes, is a surprisingly elaborate desk loaded with all sorts of amateur radio equipment like radios and repeaters — as well as a computer where students track their communications with other radio operators around the globe. 

Operating under the call sign KSLPS, the Columbiana Clippers Amateur Radio and Electronics Club began in November 2018, after the district’s school resource officer Wade Boley demonstrated the electromagnetic spectrum to a middle school science class. 

In 2025, Boley retired from the Columbiana police department; however, he continues to help Campbell in guidance of the club. She is equally as absorbed in the hobby along with her three daughters –all with their own call signs.

Boley stopped by Tuesday afternoon when the club had its American Radio Relay League (ARRL) School Club roundup. Held twice a year, once in February and again in October for five days, participating schools are permitted to operate their station for no more than six hours within a 24-hour period, or a total of 24 hours during the 107-hour event. 

Columbiana Middle School fifth-grader Eve Campbell (KF8CAN), who is a member of the district’s Amateur Radio Club, holds a handheld AT transceiver radio, which is the equivalent as a high-brow walkie talkie and used often during their field days. (Photo by Stephanie Ujhelyi)

Students have specific criteria that they must observe during the event. Repeaters are not to used and only specific frequencies and bands are permitted. 

They must track their contacts and submit them no later than 15 days after the end of the operating period, according to the ARRL website. 

Throughout Tuesday the participating students made contacts with various national and international radio operators. 

Thanks to contributions from groups like the Columbiana Community Foundation, DX Engineering and other radio enthusiasts, the district has been able to upgrade its equipment beyond normally what they would be able to obtain. 

Campbell is especially proud of the number of middle and high school students, who have been able to obtain their own individual licenses through the program. 

Columbiana High School junior and member of the district’s Amateur Radio Club, Savannah Howard (KB8VAQ) holds a fully assembled portable Arrow VHF-UHF handheld antenna used for field days. Used in conjunction with the club’s “go kit,” the antenna enables them to hold their own local “fox hunts,” where the operators use radio direction to locate a hidden low-power radio transmitter —especially since many of the club members are too young to drive. (Photo by Stephanie Ujhelyi)

Last year, the club saw 10 of its members achieve that goal. 

During one communication Tuesday, the students contacted “Mark from Wisconsin,” who himself is in charge of education for his local club. Enthusiastic about speaking to youth, “Mark” talked about famous people with amateur radio credentials — such as Joe Walsh of the Eagles and Priscilla Presley as well as several astronauts. 

“It is a fantastic hobby,” he added. 

Columbiana High School junior and member of the district’s Amateur Radio Club, Savannah Howard (KB8VAQ) holds a fully assembled portable Arrow VHF-UHF handheld antenna used for field days. Used in conjunction with the club’s “go kit,” the antenna enables them to hold their own local “fox hunts,” where the operators use radio direction to locate a hidden low-power radio transmitter —especially since many of the club members are too young to drive. (Photo by Stephanie Ujhelyi)