Essay Prompt, Requirements, Eligibility, and Awards

First Place Prize: $4,000
Second Place Prize: $3,000
Third Place Prize: $2,000
Optional Honorable Mention(s): $500


All eligible entrants will also receive a full 1-year complimentary student membership to FFRF, which includes a digital version of 10 issues of Freethought Today, FFRF’s newspaper (publishes winning student essays).
 
This Year's Topic: Why "history" shouldn't justify violations of the separation between state and church.
 
Prompt: In Town of Greece v. Galloway, the Supreme Court wrote that “the Establishment Clause must be interpreted ‘by reference to historical practices and understandings.’” In the wake of that decision, courts have struggled to define the exact contours of the historical considerations at play, with some courts treating Galloway as announcing a broadly applicable “history test,” while others have continued to apply more traditional Establishment Clause tests. In no more than 1,500 words, identify the dangers in interpreting Galloway as establishing a broadly applicable “history test” and, with citation to at least two post-Galloway cases, from any courts, define the outer boundaries where a history test should be applied.
 
DEADLINE: June 15, 2021
 
ELIGIBILITY: The contest is open to students enrolled in a North American law school during the 2020-21 academic year. You remain eligible to enter this contest if you are a 3L and graduate from law school in 2021. You are not eligible to enter if you will be starting law school for the first time in the fall of 2021. You may not re-enter if FFRF has already awarded you for a law student essay.
 
WORD LIMIT AND FORMATTING: Essay must be no longer than 1,500 words (not including footnotes), double spaced, standard margins, and font size 11 to 14 point. Include your name and title of your essay on each page. Choose your own title. Pages must be numbered. Indicate word length at end of essay.

AGREEMENT: By entering, students agree to permit winning essays to be printed in full or in part in Freethought Today, FFRF's newspaper, and posted online at FFRF's website. Winners agree to promptly provide a photograph suitable for reproduction with their essay. Verification of student enrollment may also be requested.

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* 1. Please provide the following personal information

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* 2. Please provide your permanent contact information. (Country is only required if you are outside of the U.S.)

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* 3. Please provide your school-year address information, if different from permanent address.

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* 4. Please answer the following questions regarding your undergraduate degree(s).

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* 5. Please write a one-paragraph biography about yourself.

This may include interests, family, volunteerism, secular, or other activism, year in school, awards, work experience, travel, and professional or educational goals.

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* 6. How did you hear about this essay competition?

Was it a specific scholarship website, our newspaper, school, etc.?

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* 7. I verify that I am currently enrolled in law school.

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* 8. By entering this competition, I agree to the following if I am one of the winners: to permit my winning essay to be announced in a news release, posted online at FFRF’s website, and printed in full or in part in FRFF’s newspaper, Freethought Today; to promptly provide FFRF with a high resolution photograph of myself suitable for publication with my winning essay; to send verification of student enrollment, if requested.

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