Date: March 2026
Amount: $8,200

Tooele County School District’s Advanced Career Exploration Center (ACE) is home to the district’s capstone technical courses, including Linux, Cyber Defense, Cyber Forensics, Engineering and Computer Programming. It also houses the district’s alternative high school (Blue Peak High School), its adult education program and its special needs transition program.

Since 2016, ACE has offered amateur radio training courses to any student interested. In addition to in-depth Technician and General class licensing training, they regularly invite guest “Elmers” from the local radio club to present and mentor students on their journey. The school pays for all training, testing and licensing fees. Past projects include high altitude balloon launches, fox hunts and a direct radio contact with the International Space Station. Tooele ACE is the only school in the state of Utah to offer amateur radio curriculum and subsidized testing.

Tooele ACE will use grant funds to create and conduct engaging learning experiences by purchasing necessary equipment and study materials. The learning activities will be part of all technology courses, and will include high altitude balloons, fox hunts, digital mode experiments, and satellite communications. Additionally, grant funds will be used to repair a damaged satellite ground station that was previously built to support a direct ARISS contact with the International Space Station.

In all, Tooele County School District aims to engage students with amateur radio, educate them via kinesthetic, real-world activities and inspire lifelong participation in the hobby.