Essay Prompt, Requirements, Eligibility, and Awards

AWARDS:

David Hudak First Place Prize: $3,500
Second Place Award: $3,000
Third Place Award: $2,500
Fourth Place Award: $2,000
Fifth Place Award: $1,500
Sixth Place Award: $1,000
Seventh Place Award: $750
Eighth Place Award: $500
Ninth Place Award: $400
Tenth Place Award: $300
Optional Honorable Mention(s): $200

All eligible entrants will be offered a full one-year complimentary student membership, which includes a digital version of 10 issues of Freethought Today (FFRF's newspaper which publishes student essays), and a complimentary book or premium.

THIS YEAR'S TOPIC: How white Christian nationalism endangers my rights.

PROMPT: 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 FOCUS ON ONE ISSUE — 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.

WORD COUNT: 350-500 words.
ELIGIBILITY: Open only to Black, Indigenous and Students of Color ages 17-21, who are either high school seniors graduating in spring 2025 who will be attending a North American college or university in fall 2025, or who are currently enrolled in a North American college or university. If you will be graduating from college in the spring or summer 2025, you remain eligible to enter this contest. This contest is offered to provide support and acknowledgment for freethinking Black, Indigenous and Students of Color, as a minority within a minority. People of Color refers to all racial groups that are not white. Specifically, any person who is not considered white, including African-Americans, Hispanic-Americans, Asian-Americans and others. FFRF offers other essay contests open to all students in your age group. Students may only enter one FFRF contest annually.

Fill out application and submit your essay no later than 11:59 pm CDT, June 1, 2025. Winners will be notified no later than August 2025.

SUBMISSION RULES: Please fill out online submission form and attach essay. The essay must be double-spaced, standard margins, font size of 11 to 14 point, and attached as a PDF. Your name and the name of your essay must be included on every page. Pages must be numbered. Please choose your own title, do not use the topic of the essay as the title. Indicate word length at end of the essay. Do not attach a resume with your essay. Include links to quotes, studies or major facts relied upon, or footnote. Your essay will score more favorably if you follow all instructions. FFRF monitors for plagiarism and A.I. (e.g., ChatGPT, etc.).

AGREEMENT: By entering the competition, you agree to permit your name and winning essay to be printed in full or in part in Freethought Today, FFRF's newspaper; ANNOUNCED IN A NEWS RELEASE, and POSTED ONLINE AT FFRF's WEBSITE. You also agree, if you win an award, to promptly provide FFRF with a high-resolution photograph of yourself suitable for reproduction with your winning essay.

REQUIREMENTS: Winners may be asked to send verification of student enrollment. Students will be disqualified if you do not follow instructions, including word limit and deadline. You must submit your essay via online application.

BANISH MANGLISH: FFRF encourages you to please use inclusive language, rather than language that presumes everyone is male. For example, try "humanity" or "humankind," rather than "mankind."

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