Amateur Radio Club members Jacob O’Shaughnessy and Aidan Riley helped a Boy Scout troop earn their Radio Merit Badge after meeting the troop at the Kettle Moraine State Park.

“We taught the Radio Merit Badge, which consists of learning about regulations, physics and careers around radio,” said O’Shaughnessy. “It also included a tour of the MSOE Amateur Radio Club ‘ham shack’ and an opportunity for the scouts to communicate over a short-distance radio.”

Both O’Shaughnessy and Riley were in Boy Scouts when they were younger. One of the biggest lessons they learned from scouting was the importance of giving back. They were proud to be able to step into a leadership role for the scouts and give back to the program that taught them so much.

“The most important part of scouts is creating opportunities for others to grow,” said Riley. “I was lucky to have the opportunities that I had while I was in the scouting program, and I want to give those opportunities to those going through the scouting program now.”

A total of seven Boy Scouts participated in the workshop to earn their Radio Merit Badge. This was a unique opportunity for the MSOE students to lead. Their typical club routine includes attending weekly meetings and participating in operating contests where they race to make as many two-way radio contacts as possible.

“The club balances educational content with fun and exciting operating events. Some events we’ve done this year include the 2024 FT Challenge, the 2024 Collegiate QSO Party—which we took first in place in—and several Parks on the Air (POTA) activations, where we travel to state parks for a day to make long-distance radio contacts,” explained Riley. 

This summer, the Amateur Radio Club will have their summer activation for the ARRL Summer Field Day, where they will travel to northern Wisconsin to set up several portable radio stations as part of an emergency preparedness exercise, the largest radio operating event in North America. Although O’Shaughnessy and Riley both graduated in May 2025, they are hoping to stay involved in events and provide technical guidance. They also hope to establish an MSOE Alumni Amateur Radio Association, with the goal of encouraging alumni to stay involved in the hobby and support students in the club.