In April 2009, the ARRL Foundation Board of Directors voted unanimously to award the prestigious William R. Goldfarb Memorial Scholarship to Dean LaBarba, KI6CUX, of Long Beach, California. LaBarba will graduate from Woodrow Wilson High School this year with a GPA of 4.0. According to ARRL Chief Development Officer Mary Hobart, K1MMH, upon graduation, LaBarba will more than meet the course requirements with 50 hours of honors and Advanced Placement credits.

LaBarba holds a Technician class license that in 2005 led him to participation in the Amateur Radio Emergency Communication (AREC) team at his high school; since 2007, he has served as president. The mobile Amateur Radio station at Wilson High School is the only high school emergency team in Long Beach. Hobart said that LaBarba took the "extra initiative" to display and demonstrate the mobile radio station at the district science fair, explaining to the public the role that Amateur Radio plays in community safety. LaBarba also spends considerable time coordinating Amateur Radio activities, including Field Day, with the local community

In addition to his Amateur Radio activities, LaBarba is active in the Symphony and Symphonic Orchestra where he is seated as principal trombone. He also participates in the school speech and debate team. From an early age, LaBarba -- who will be attending Westmont College in Santa Barbara, California -- has had a keen interest in medicine and intends to pursue a career in neurology.

The Goldfarb Scholarship is the result of a generous endowment from the late William Goldfarb, N2ITP. Before his death in 1997, Goldfarb set up a scholarship endowment of close to $1 million in memory of his parents, Albert and Dorothy Goldfarb. Awarded to one high school senior each year, the Goldfarb Scholarship assists the recipient to receive a four-year undergraduate degree in engineering or science or in the medical or business-related fields. The terms of reference of the generous Goldfarb scholarship award require that recipients demonstrate financial need and significant involvement with Amateur Radio, in addition to high academic performance. The seventh Goldfarb Scholarship winner, LaBarba continues the tradition of prior recipients, demonstrating superior academic performance, outstanding leadership and extraordinary Amateur Radio and community service.

More information on the Goldfarb Scholarship is available on the ARRL Web site. Applications for the Goldfarb Scholarship and other ARRL Foundation Scholarships are accepted each year beginning October 1 and ending February 1 for the academic year that starts the following August/September.