The Freedom From Religion Foundation has announced its four 2026 essay competitions for freethinking students.
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 re-enter a contest if they have previously won an award in that particular contest.
All essays are due no later than June 1. For more details on the contest requirements and to apply, go to: ffrf.org/studentessay.
William J. Schulz Memorial Essay Contest for College-bound High School Seniors
High school seniors graduating this spring/summer and attending college in the fall are asked to write on the topic of “My favorite freethought/humanist hero/ine.” (Gap year students who took time off after graduating high school before applying to attend college in the fall of 2026 should enter this contest.)
“The world would be astonished if it knew how great a proportion of its brightest ornaments — of those most distinguished even in popular estimation for wisdom and virtue — are complete skeptics in religion.” — John Stuart Mill
Studies show that nonbelievers are still near the bottom rung of the ladder when it comes to social acceptance. Many Americans don’t realize how many activists or achievers they admire are not religious. To help educate them, write a personal essay about your favorite freethinker or humanist and what they did or are doing to improve or enrich our lives. It might be a nonreligious scientist, an artist or writer, a reformer — or an everyday person in your life who has made the world better and inspired you. Please briefly explain their influence or accomplishments and briefly document their nonreligious views. Tell us what they have meant to you as a humanist and nonbeliever. For quotes or citations, please document using links or footnotes.
Word limit: 350–500. Deadline: June 1.
Kenneth L. Proulx Memorial Essay Contest for Ongoing College Students
Currently enrolled college students (up to age 24; does not include college-bound high school seniors) may write on: “Why President Trump is wrong that ‘you just can’t have a great country if you don’t have religion.’”
Write a first-person essay that makes the case about why Trump is wrong to claim that “you just can’t have a great country if you don’t have religion.” Choose one or more such quotes by Trump (citing them in your essay) and show why his claims are fallacious. You may wish to marshall evidence or history that contradicts Trump’s claims, or address how his words threaten state/church separation and religious freedom. Save room to include something about your own reaction as a nonbeliever to such pronouncements by the president. Include links or footnotes for quotes or major citations.
The $1,000 prize in the ongoing college competition has been generously endowed by actor and FFRF Lifetime Member Mr. Madison Arnold. Madison, who is now 90, has given a $30,000 endowment as a living bequest, what he calls a “pre-quest.”
Word limit: 450–650. Deadline: June 1.
David Hudak Memorial Essay Contest for Students Who Are First-in-their-Family to Attend College
Students who will be first in their family to attend either a two- or four-year college or university and who are ages 17–21 (which includes college-bound high school seniors to currently enrolled college students), may write on the topic of: “Why white supremacy goes hand in hand with Christian nationalism.”
Write an essay about the inherent white racism in Christian nationalism. You may wish to write about it from a historic or a political perspective, but please be sure to include why it is a threat to our secular democracy and to you as an individual, or to your own community or other ethnic or racial minorities in the United States. Include something about your own experiences with or reactions to white Christian nationalism.
Word limit: 350–500. Deadline: June 1.
Cornelius Vander Broek Essay Contest for ‘Graduate/Older’ Students
Graduate students (through age 30) and “older” undergrads (ages 25–30) are asked to write about “Why the 250-year-old United States of America is not a Christian nation.”
Research and write an essay documenting why the U.S. government is not based on God or Christianity. Refute the claim by President Trump and others that the 250-year-old Declaration of Independence proves that our government is based on God. Include and refute a few other timely examples of legislators, public officials or other individuals promoting the Christian nation myth. Save space to include your own thoughts on why you find “Christian nation” propaganda and disinformation dangerous to our democracy and also how you feel about this as a nonbeliever. Include links or footnotes for quotes or major citations.
Word limit: 550–750. Deadline: June 1.
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 and non-winners also will be offered a book or other thank-you.
FFRF is appreciative of its members who make the effort to contact local high schools, colleges and universities to help publicize its competitions. You can email them this link: ffrf.org/studentessay.
The Freedom From Religion Foundation is a U.S.-based nonprofit dedicated to defending the constitutional principle of separation between state and church and educating the public on matters relating to nontheism. With more than 41,000 members, FFRF is the largest association of freethinkers (atheists, agnostics and humanists) in North America. For more information, visit ffrf.org.
