The Freedom From Religion Foundation, with the backing of individual donors, has collaborated with the Secular Student Alliance to select, announce and distribute a variety of student awards.
This year’s winners are (as per SSA policy to help protect identities, only the students’ first names are used unless permission otherwise granted):
Eli Frost — Al Luneman Student Activist Award ($1,000).
Humberto — Cliff Richards Memorial Student Scholarship Award ($1,000).
Oluwaseye — Cliff Richards Memorial Student Scholarship Award ($1,000).
Ve — Cliff Richards Memorial Student Scholarship Award ($1,000).
Mira — Yip Harburg Lyric Foundation Student Scholarship ($1,000).
FFRF has a variety of scholarships available to give directly for exceptional student activism. If you know of any student who is actively helping to uphold state/church separation or fighting for the rights of nonbelievers, please use the form at ffrf.us/nominate.
Al Luneman Student Activist Award
Eli Frost
Chaska (Minn.) High School
Eli is a passionate high school student who plans to graduate from college with a degree in political science and potentially attend law school to become a politician. His ultimate aim is to use his political influence to bring positive change, particularly by standing up to Christian nationalist politicians and promoting respect and kindness for all people — not for religious rewards, but because it’s simply the right thing to do. Eli’s commitment to social justice drives his desire to make people feel valued and to fight against the persecution of minority groups.
Eli’s secular identity as an atheist developed out of his frustration with the lack of evidence supporting the existence of a higher power and the harmful effects of faith-based discrimination. Raised in a world where religion often justifies bigotry, Eli became disillusioned by the way religion is used to target marginalized groups, especially the LGBTQ-plus community. This deepened his secular beliefs and solidified his commitment to fighting religiously motivated hate. He believes that secularism, free from religious doctrines, provides a more inclusive and accepting environment for everyone, particularly for LGBTQ-plus individuals like himself.
Eli has already proven himself to be an effective advocate for secular and intersectional causes. For over a year, he has worked tirelessly to move his school district’s graduation ceremonies away from a discriminatory megachurch. Through petitions, school board meetings, and engaging with local media and advocacy organizations like the Freedom From Religion Foundation, Eli successfully pushed the district to change the graduation venue to a more inclusive, secular location. Additionally, he has been an active ally in the fight against racial injustice in his community, even speaking at school board meetings and sharing his thoughts with Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison during a discussion about racism in his district.
Eli’s work aligns closely with the mission of the Secular Student Alliance, as he believes in reducing the power of religion in public life and building a strong secular community. He is committed to creating a more secular, inclusive world, especially by countering the Christian nationalist agenda seen in politics today. Through his activism and knowledge of politics, Eli is determined to protect minority groups and contribute to a future where everyone is treated with respect, without the influence of religious bigotry.
FFRF thanks FFRF Member Al Luneman for making possible this scholarship.
Cliff Richards Memorial Student Activist Award for Students Attending a Historically Black College or University
Humberto
University of Houston
Humberto, a student majoring in biomedical engineering, is driven by a passion for research and a commitment to improving human well-being through technological advancements. They aspire to work in bioengineering, a field that has already enabled breakthroughs like helping paraplegics walk and the blind see. Humberto’s dream is to contribute to this innovative field by developing technologies that enhance the quality of life for people around the world.
Humberto’s journey toward secularism began during their teenage years in Venezuela, where they grew up in a Catholic household. Despite being immersed in religious traditions, Humberto’s growing curiosity about science and the empirical approach it offered led them to question the religious doctrines they were raised with. As their interest in scientific inquiry deepened, Humberto found themselves increasingly at odds with the dogmatic beliefs of their upbringing, leading them to embrace secularism. For Humberto, secularism provides a philosophical framework that values reason, evidence-based knowledge, and the freedom to explore ideas without religious constraints.
Founding the Secular Student Alliance chapter at Lone Star College was a turning point for Humberto’s activism. The chapter became a platform for advocating the separation of church and state and fostering open dialogue about secular values. Humberto organized speaker panels on topics ranging from science literacy to the importance of evidence-based decision-making in public policy. They also led student forums where participants could openly discuss religion, secularism, and contentious issues like abortion in a safe, respectful environment.
Humberto’s advocacy for LGBTQ-plus rights is closely tied to their secular identity. Having grown up in a deeply religious environment where homophobic attitudes were prevalent, Humberto experienced the painful intersection of personal identity and societal expectations. Their commitment to secularism stems from the desire for a society where individuals are not judged or discriminated against based on their sexual orientation. This belief has driven their efforts to promote inclusion and equality through workshops, collaborations with LGBTQ-plus organizations, and participation in Pride events.
Humberto’s activism extends beyond LGBTQ-plus and secular issues. They are deeply committed to humanitarian causes, including raising awareness about the ongoing conflict in Gaza. As the new academic year begins, Humberto plans to collaborate with student organizations and media outlets to amplify their message, foster dialogue, and mobilize support for peace and humanitarian aid.
FFRF thanks the estate of Cliff Richards for this scholarship for HBCU students.
Cliff Richards Memorial Student Activist Award for Students Attending a Historically Black College or University
Oluwaseye
Morgan State University
Oluwaseye is a dedicated student pursuing a bachelor of science degree in biology while maintaining a stellar 4.0 GPA. Having earned an associate degree from the Community College of Baltimore County, she has further enriched her academic experience through participation in the Summer Premedical Academic Enrichment Program at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine. There, Oluwaseye honed her skills in scientific writing, public speaking and collaborative learning. Her research has focused on critical issues like racial disparities in maternal health and the mental health of Black women during the Covid-19 pandemic, reflecting her passion for addressing societal inequities through science.
Oluwaseye’s secular identity is deeply intertwined with her commitment to scientific rationality, human-centered ethics, and a rejection of supernatural explanations. She arrived at secularism through a careful examination of evidence and reason, believing that empirical knowledge should guide decisions, particularly in science and medicine. This secular outlook informs her approach to her studies, her activism and her community engagement, where she advocates for evidence-based solutions that promote well-being and equality.
As a Black woman in STEM, Oluwaseye’s identity intersects with her secularism in profound ways. Her experiences navigating systemic challenges and biases have heightened her awareness of social justice issues, inspiring her to advocate for marginalized communities. This intersectionality fuels her commitment to promoting diversity, equity and inclusion within both the scientific and secular communities.
Oluwaseye’s activism extends beyond STEM. She is actively involved with the Students Open to Unique Love (SOUL) organization and the NAACP, where she advocates for LGBTQ-plus rights and civil rights. As president of the Women in Pre-Med Chapter at Morgan State and vice president of mentorship at the Student Research Center, she has organized initiatives to support women in science and promote diversity in research. This academic year, Oluwaseye plans to expand her outreach efforts, particularly targeting underrepresented groups in STEM. She aims to mentor high school students, organize workshops on navigating academic challenges and highlight the contributions of diverse scientists. Additionally, her collaboration with the Secular Student Alliance aligns with her goal of promoting scientific literacy, ethical reasoning and the separation of church and state. By championing secular values, Oluwaseye hopes to foster a more inclusive, evidence-based, and humanistic society.
FFRF thanks the estate of Cliff Richards for this scholarship for HBCU students.
Cliff Richards Memorial Student Activist Award for Students Attending a Historically Black College or University
Ve
Howard University
Ve, a journalism major at Howard University, is driven by the mission to use their journalistic skills to amplify marginalized voices and fight for social change. As a Black-Trinidadian American of Indian descent, and a nonbinary person living in South Florida, Ve witnesses first-hand the increasing threats to the rights and visibility of LGBTQ-plus people of color. This personal experience fuels their commitment to spread awareness of these injustices and work toward ending them.
A dedicated humanitarian, Ve is passionate about equality and believes in the power of storytelling to effect positive social change. Through their podcast, “Happy Black Narrative,” Ve highlights and uplifts the experiences of Black, queer women and nonbinary individuals, creating a platform that empowers those whose voices are often silenced. One of their most impactful contributions to activism was attending a protest outside the Capitol following the overturn of Roe v. Wade. Leveraging their journalism skills, Ve interviewed activists and published their stories on the podcast to raise awareness about how this issue disproportionately impacts people of color and other marginalized communities.
At Howard, Ve is also involved with the unofficial chapter of Action Activists, a nonprofit organization that empowers youth activism. Currently, they are working with the group to organize protests in support of Palestine, collaborating with other campus organizations to further the cause. With Howard’s prime location in Washington, D.C., Ve and their peers plan to take to the streets, ensuring their voices are heard on the national stage.
Ve’s secular identity aligns closely with the mission of the Secular Student Alliance, as they believe in the importance of creating a space where individuals can express their identities freely. For Ve, secularism is about more than individual freedom — it’s about fostering collective liberation. By advocating for human rights through journalism and activism, Ve continues to build a future rooted in diversity, inclusion, and respect for all identities.
FFRF thanks the estate of Cliff Richards for this scholarship for HBCU students.
Yip Harburg Lyric Foundation Scholarship
Mira
Rhode Island School of Design
Mira, a new student at the Rhode Island School of Design, spent the first 12 years of her life in Turkey before moving to the U.S. to pursue her passion for the arts. Raised in a family of musicians, Mira has always felt drawn to creative expression and has now begun her journey at the RISD, her dream institution. Mira plans to major in painting and later pursue a master’s degree that deepens her expertise in the field, with a goal of becoming a professional artist.
Mira’s secular identity has been shaped by her experiences growing up in Turkey, where she was required to take mandatory religion classes focused solely on Islamic teachings for six years. She believes this curriculum deprived students of religious freedom and failed to reflect the diversity of beliefs in the world. Mira believes that her peers should have the freedom to explore various faiths through optional courses, rather than being forced to study Islam for the standardized university exam. Her frustration with the limitations of this curriculum fueled her activism from an early age. She joined protests alongside educators and fellow students, advocating for the government to make these classes optional, include courses on other religions, and create a more inclusive curriculum. Although the issue remains unresolved, her activism has solidified her commitment to secularism.
Having lived in both Turkey and the United States, Mira’s perspective has been broadened by meeting people from diverse cultural and religious backgrounds. These experiences have reinforced her belief in the importance of promoting a secular government that protects religious freedom for all, ensuring individuals have the right to practice or abstain from religion. On and off-campus, Mira continues to support initiatives that foster understanding of different beliefs and encourage tolerance in diverse communities.
Beyond secular activism, Mira is also involved in intersectional activism. In 2020, she joined protests in Turkey against the lenient sentences given to men who committed acts of domestic violence. Feeling threatened by these judicial decisions, Mira stood in solidarity with women across the country, raising awareness about the dangers women face and advocating for justice. This intersection of gender and social justice is central to her activism, as she strives to create a safer, more equitable world.
FFRF thanks the Yip Harburg Lyric Foundation for this scholarship geared to a student in the arts.
The Freedom From Religion Foundation is a national nonprofit organization with 40,000 members across the country. Our purposes are to protect the constitutional principle of separation between state and church, and to educate the public on matters relating to nontheism.
The Secular Student Alliance is the only national organization dedicated to atheist, humanist, and other nontheist students. It empowers secular students to proudly express their identity, build welcoming communities, promote secular values, and set a course for lifelong activism.
