Student Activist Award

Cassie Gootee graduated from Englewood High School, Colorado, in the year 2000. She was inducted into the National Honor Society and was president of the student body. She represented Colorado at the National Young Leaders Conference in Washington, D.C. Throughout high school, Cassie served as an active volunteer. Cassie plans to major in political science and government. She received a "student activist award" for successfully objecting to organized prayers at her graduation.

Now-deceased Foundation member Alan Snyder generously underwrote Cassie's monetary award of $1,000, which was presented to her in person at the national convention of the Freedom From Religion Foundation in St. Paul on Sept. 16, 2000.

For the full speech click here

Photo by Brent Nicastro