2009 FFRF High School Senior Essay Competition

First Prize: Blanche Fearn Memorial Award–$2,000
Second Place–$1,000
Third Place–$500
Honorable Mention(s)–$200

“Why Darwin Is Important to America”

Eligibility: High school seniors in North America who are college-bound in fall 2009. (Currently-enrolled college students should enter the College Essay Competition.)

Topic: Write on the timely topic of “Why Darwin Is Important to America.”
The year 2009 marks both the bicentennial of Darwin’s birth, and the 150th anniversary of the publication of Darwin’s Origin of Species. Yet at least half of all adult Americans embrace creationism. Students are asked to address the dangers to America of such mass ignorance. They may wish to write about how rejection of science in favor of bible literalism hurts the next generation, America’s stature in the world, and/or scientific progress, or address the history of the evolution vs. creationism battle. Students should include some suggestions about how individuals, public schools or science educators can combat widespread acceptance of creationism.

Requirements: Essay should be 3-4 typed, double-spaced pages with standard margins. Choose your own title. Include a separate paragraph biography identifying the college or university you will be attending, intended major and interests. Provide permanent and campus addresses, phone numbers and email. Please staple. Do not include a resume. No faxes or emails will be accepted.

Deadline: June 1, 2009. Winners will be announced in August 2009. Winners will be asked to provide a photograph suitable for publication. By entering our contest, winning students agree to have their essays printed in full or in part in Freethought Today, the Foundation’s newspaper, and later posted online at our website. Winners will receive a school-year subscription to Freethought Today. All eligible non-winning entrants will be offered the choice of a freethought book, or a school-year subscription to Freethought Today.

Who was Blanche Fearn? She was a longtime member and benefactor of the Foundation who died in 1995. Although she never had the opportunity to attend college, she was a lifelong learner. As an elementary-school student in the early 1900s she bravely objected to prayers at her public school. She maintained an interest in the separation of church and state throughout her life.

Mail (don’t email) essay, postmarked no later than June 1, 2009, to:
High School Essay Competition
FFRF, Inc.
PO Box 750
Madison WI 53701

2009 FFRF College Essay Competition

First Prize: Michael Hakeem Memorial Award–$2,000
Second Place–$1,000
Third Place–$500
Honorable Mention(s)–$200

"Why I Reject Religion"
"Why I am an Atheist/Agnostic/Unbeliever"
or "Growing Up a Freethinker"

Eligibility: Currently-enrolled college students. (High-school seniors enrolling in college this fall should enter High School Essay Competition.) The contest is open only to North American students or students enrolled in North American colleges or universities at least through December 2009.

Topic: College students are asked to write about "Why I Reject Religion," "Why I am an Atheist/Agnostic/Unbeliever," or "Growing Up a Freethinker." They may use a personal (biographical) or a philosophical or sociological approach. They may critique the bible or other religious claims in describing why they choose reason over faith. Experiences in rejecting religion in a religious society may be included. Requirements: Essay should be 4-5 typed, double-spaced pages with standard margins. Choose your own title. Include a separate paragraph biography identifying the college or university you are attending, year in school, major and interests. Provide permanent and campus addresses, phone numbers and email. Please staple. Do not include a resume. No faxes or emails will be accepted.

Deadline: July 1, 2009. Winners will be announced in September 2009. Winners will be asked to provide a photograph suitable for publication. By entering our contest, winning students agree to have their essays printed in full or in part in Freethought Today, the Foundation’s newspaper, and later posted online at our website. Winners will receive a school-year subscription to Freethought Today. All eligible non-winning entrants will be offered the choice of a freethought book, or a school-year subscription to Freethought Today.

Who was Michael Hakeem? He was a professor of sociology at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, who died at age 90 in 2006. Mike, the son of first-generation immigrants, was the first in his family to go to college and went on to earn a Ph.D. He influenced generations with his classes in critical thinking. A stalwart atheist, he was chair of the Foundation’s governing board for many years. The college competition, which has been offered as a memorial for several activist Foundation members over the last 30 years, is now being offered as a memorial to this Foundation activist, volunteer and benefactor.

Mail (don’t email) essay, postmarked no later than July 1, 2009, to:
College Essay Competition
FFRF, Inc.
PO Box 750
Madison WI 53701