2026 Student Essay Contests

Geographic Scope: United States

Focus Areas: Freethought; separation of church and state

Eligibility: High school and college students

Program Overview:

Since 1979, the Freedom From Religion Foundation has conducted annual essay competitions to bestow cash scholarships on freethinking high school and college students. The Foundation recognizes outstanding activism for freethought or the separation of church and state.

Specific Named Scholarships

The Foundation offers multiple endowed student awards:

• Al Luneman Student Activist Award - $1,000
• Cliff Richards Memorial Award
• Lorraine Hansberry Humanist Scholarship Award
• Out of God's Closet
• Diane and Stephen Uhl Memorial Award
• Percy Bysshe Shelley Award
• Richard and Beverly Hermsen Award
• Robert G. Ingersoll Award
• Strong Backbone Award
• Catherine Fahringer Student Memorial Award - $1,000 (endowed since 2009)
• Thomas Jefferson Youth Activist Award - $1,000 (endowed by an Oregon couple)

Additional funding: Other freethought donors have periodically contributed to expand awards. Late donor Alan Snyder endowed two years of awards designated for students.

Award History

From 1997-2007, Board Member Richard Mole endowed an additional annual Student Activist Award in memory of Ruth ("Dixie") Jokinen. Activist students were honored at several national conventions in the 1990s.

Contact:

• FFRF, PO Box 750, Madison, WI 53701
• EIN: #391302520