The Freedom From Religion Foundation has announced its 2025 essay competitions for freethinking students — offering $70,000 (or more) in total scholarships.
Each of these four contests has 10 top prizes: First place — $3,500; second place — $3,000; third place — $2,500; fourth place — $2,000; fifth place — $1,500; sixth place — $1,000; seventh place — $750; eighth place — $500; ninth place — $400; and 10th place — $300. FFRF also offers optional honorable mentions of $200.
The contests cater to students in different age/class ranges. Students may only enter one FFRF contest annually and may not enter a contest if they have previously won an award in that particular contest.
William J. Schulz Memorial Essay Contest for College-Bound High School Seniors
High school seniors graduating this spring and attending college in the fall are asked to write on the topic of “To do good is my religion.”
Thomas Paine, our “forgotten Founder,” famously wrote that “to do good is my religion.” Write a first-person essay explaining why “doing good” does not depend on religious belief. Explain why you are not religious and what you think morality should be based on instead of God, holy books or dogma. How would you counter common myths that atheists are immoral or “can’t be good without God”? Include examples of how you’ve “done good” to help others in your essay.
Word limit: 350–500. Deadline: May 1.
ffrf.us/senioressay2025
Kenneth L. Proulx Memorial Essay Contest for Ongoing College Students
Currently enrolled college students (up to age 24) may write on: “Why the only afterlife that should concern us is leaving our descendants and planet a secure and pleasant future.”
Research and write a first-person essay about how religious mindsets and belief in an unprovable “afterlife” have a negative impact on promoting human welfare and our planet. Show how this religious claim still leads our planet astray in solving the world’s problems, such as climate change, inequality or public health. Briefly explain why you reject religion and belief in an afterlife and why keeping our focus on this world is best.
Actor and FFRF Lifetime Member Mr. Madison Arnold is generously endowing the $1,000 prize in the ongoing college competition. Madison, who is 89, has given a $30,000 endowment as a living bequest, what he calls a “pre-quest.”
Word limit: 450–650. Deadline: June 1.
ffrf.us/collegeessay2025
David Hudak Memorial Essay Contest for Freethinking Black, Indigenous and Students of Color
Black, Indigenous and Students of Color ages 17–21 (college-bound high school seniors to currently enrolled college students), may write on the topic of “How white Christian nationalism endangers my rights.”
Research and write a first-person essay about how white Christian nationalism poses a danger to your rights. Choose one particular attack by Christian nationalism on civil liberties — such as against DEI, voting rights, LGBTQ rights, reproductive rights, or general civil rights — and explain how white Christian nationalism poses a threat and how that threat impacts you, your family or others in the BIPOC community. Suggest one or two strategies that you, as a nonreligious individual, could personally do to combat white Christian nationalism and champion secularism and equality.
This contest is offered to support and acknowledge freethinking Students of Color as a minority within a minority. The other FFRF student contests are open to all students.
Word limit: 350–500. Deadline: June 1.
ffrf.us/BIPOCessay2025
Cornelius Vander Broek Essay Contest for ‘Graduate/Older’ Students
Graduate students (through age 30) and “older” undergrads (ages 25–30) are asked to write on the topic: “State/church issues endangered by the Trump administration’s capitulation to Christian nationalism.”
Focus on one issue related to state/church separation or secular social policy that you consider to be under threat by Christian nationalist policies in the Trump administration. Issues might include: federal vouchers for religious education at the expense of public schools; contraception and abortion rights; LGBTQ rights; vaccinations and public health; climate change mitigation, etc. Research and explain what’s at stake, show how Christian nationalism is behind this attack and include some ideas about combatting the threat.
Word limit: 550–750. Deadline: June 1.
ffrf.us/gradessay2025
Additional prompts on the topics and contest rule requirements can be found at: ffrf.org/studentessay . All eligible entrants will receive a digital year-long student membership in FFRF.
FFRF appreciates its members who make the effort to contact local high schools, colleges and universities to help publicize its competitions.
The Freedom From Religion Foundation is a U.S.-based nonprofit dedicated to promoting the constitutional principle of separation between state and church and educating the public on matters of nontheism. With nearly 42,000 members, FFRF advocates for freethinkers’ rights across the globe. For more information, visit ffrf.org.
