Photo by Aaron Burden on Unsplash
The Freedom From Religion Foundation is seeking volunteers to help judge this year’s FFRF essay scholarship contests.
FFRF proudly hosts five student essay competitions a year — four of which are judged by volunteer FFRF members and staff. We are looking for judges who have experience that make them particularly suited to assessing student essays.
Do you have a special background and interest in encouraging freethinking students? Do you enjoy reading the winning essays in issues of Freethought Today? This background can include degrees in English or writing, being a teacher (or retired teacher), writing instructor or tutor, etc. — or just other life experiences and freethought activism. For the graduate competition, it can be helpful, although it’s not a prerequisite, to have judges with advanced degrees or who have taught at the college level.
Required: Being able to read and score essays online (remotely). Judging takes place in the summer. You can indicate which competition(s) you are most interested in helping to judge. Volunteer judges will be identified and thanked by name in Freethought Today and in FFRF’s Year in Review.
Each competition typically hands out about $16,000 in total prizes, with 10 awards ranging from $3,500 for first place to $300 for 10th place, and additional $200 honorable mentions at FFRF’s discretion.
You may contact Lisa Treu with any questions at [email protected]. To apply: ffrf.us/essayjudge
“FFRF is honored to continue paying forward the generosity of our donors by rewarding the dedication coming from the next generation of freethinkers,” FFRF Co-President Annie Laurie Gaylor says. “If you’re as passionate as we are to elevate the voices of talented students, please consider being a judge for one or more of our essay contests!”
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.
