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.
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.
