The Freedom From Religion Foundation, with the financial backing of individual donors, has collaborated with the Secular Student Alliance (SSA) to select, announce and distribute major secular student activism awards for 2025.
FFRF is pleased to announce this year’s winners of the Al Luneman Student Activist Award are Dustin, Ava and Rafael, who each received $1,000. Additionally, the Cliff Richards Memorial Student Activist Award winners of scholarships reserved specifically for freethinking students going to Historical Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) are Sariyah and Donte, who each received $1,000. SSA annually publicizes some of FFRF’s specific student scholarships, along with those of other groups and individuals, provides applicant information, and vets the chosen students, which FFRF Co-President Annie Laurie Gaylor praises as a “wonderful service to FFRF, other donors and students.” As per SSA policy, only students’ first names are used to protect their identities.
Al Luneman Student Activist Awards
Dustin, Lincoln Memorial University
Dustin is a student at Lincoln Memorial University Duncan School of Law, pursuing a Juris Doctor degree with an expected graduation in 2028. With academic interests in constitutional, employment, Title IX and civil law, Dustin plans to practice in Tennessee and beyond, focusing on supporting survivors of sexual assault, domestic violence, sex trafficking and other forms of abuse. Dustin also hopes to contribute to law review work on Establishment Clause issues and legal strategies for holding institutions accountable for systemic failures.
Identifying as nonreligious, Dustin’s experiences as a student complainant deepened their appreciation for secular advocacy in protecting religious liberty. Since 2017, Dustin has been active in addressing Establishment Clause violations in public schools and government offices across Tennessee and neighboring states. They have collaborated with the Freedom From Religion Foundation, Americans United for Separation of Church and State, the ACLU, American Atheists and the American Humanist Association to push for accountability and uphold constitutional protections. These experiences reinforced their belief that free exercise of religion is a constitutional protection — not a tool for government actors to impose beliefs on others — and strongly influenced their decision to pursue a career in law.
Ava, Manalapan (N.J.) High School
Ava is a high school student at Manalapan High School in New Jersey, graduating in 2026. She plans to study psychology and neuroscience, aiming for a career at the intersection of science and empathy through clinical work, research or community-based mental health support. Her long-term goal is to reduce stigma around mental illness and expand equitable access to care through evidence-based practice.
Identifying as agnostic and culturally Jewish, Ava established and leads the Secular Student Activists club at her school, organizing meetings and awareness efforts on secularism, science education, mental health, and state/church separation. This year, Ava plans to expand her club’s programming with events, collaborations, and guest speakers while continuing to publish on secular values and mental health. She hopes to remain engaged in secular and humanist organizations in college and contribute to civic efforts like voter registration.
Rafael, Western Illinois University
Rafael is a student at Western Illinois University pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Physics, graduating in July 2026. He previously earned an Associate of Science from Moraine Valley Community College and a Bachelor of Arts in Mathematical Sciences from the University of Illinois Springfield. His academic goals include earning a Ph.D. in physics and a master’s in engineering. He plans to pursue a career as a researcher and instructor at a government institution while serving as a commissioned officer in the U.S. military. Long term, he hopes to run for the school board and local office to defend secular values and protect students’ First Amendment rights.
Rafael identifies as agnostic, a conviction he embraced at 19 after questioning his Roman Catholic upbringing. Influenced by authors such as Carl Sagan and Dan Brown, he began a process of deconstruction that led to living authentically without religion. He now openly identifies as a nonreligious and is a gay soldier in the U.S. Army National Guard, recognizing the importance of visibility in traditionally Christian-normative environments.
As a first-generation Mexican American and gay man, Rafael understands the tensions that arise when religious traditions dominate cultural expectations. Rafael has been deeply engaged in secular activism, co-founding an SSA chapter at the University of Illinois Springfield and organizing discussions on queer and nonreligious identities. At Western Illinois University, he revitalized the SSA chapter, represented the school at Secular Spring Break, and served as treasurer of Unity, WIU’s oldest LGBTQ+ organization. Looking ahead, he plans to secure official recognition for WIU SSA, expand programming with events like Graveyard of the Gods and a Winter Solstice celebration, and grow student participation in national projects. His activism and academic pursuits reflect a dedication to critical inquiry, community building, and the defense of secular values.
FFRF thanks member Al Luneman for making these scholarships possible.
Cliff Richards Memorial Student Activist Awards
Sariyah, North Carolina A&T State University
Sariyah is a student at North Carolina A&T State University, graduating in May 2026, and a leader in a new generation of creative professionals. She is preparing for a career in experiential marketing, a path forged by her entrepreneurial experience as a campus hairstylist and her work in digital brand strategy. Her long-term aspiration is to run her own business, creating opportunities for others while continuing to travel and mentor.
Sariyah identifies as agnostic. From an early age, she questioned Christianity, the most common religion in her community, and resisted pressure to participate in church. She recalls avoiding sleepovers that required attending church services the next day and laughing off teasing from peers who labeled her an atheist. At her HBCU, she has sometimes struggled to find like-minded individuals, but she remains grounded in her authenticity and secular outlook. She defines her beliefs by independence and reason, not by adherence to doctrine.
As a Black woman who does not conform to religious expectations, she is senior class treasurer in the Student Government Association, and helps coordinate large-scale events that bring together students. As marketing director for Aggies Abroad, she promoted study abroad opportunities that expose students to new cultures and perspectives. Travel has been important in shaping her worldview, showing her that life is broader than any single religious framework.
Donte, Clark Atlanta University
Donte is a freshman at Clark Atlanta University pursuing a dual degree in physics and robotics engineering with a concentration in robotic systems. His fascination with circuits began in childhood and grew into a passion in high school through robotics club leadership, a summer program in embedded systems, and an internship at Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Lab where he co-created a fall detection device. These experiences cemented his career goal of building reliable systems that serve communities, particularly the Black community, while mentoring younger students from similar backgrounds.
An atheist since childhood, Donte came to secularism by choice and persistence. Free from pressure to conform to religion, he embraced self-determination and the belief that effort — not faith — builds the future. For him, secularism provides freedom from external expectations and a foundation for stability through education and community. His activism has included challenging Christian remarks from administrators, speaking out against stereotypes in class, and supporting classmates facing bias or exclusion. These experiences taught him that activism often begins with small, everyday acts of courage.
FFRF is deeply grateful to Cliff Richards, who phoned FFRF shortly before his death to set up the Cliff Richards Memorial Scholarships to aid freethinking students, expressing special interest in aiding marginalized students.
For more information about this year’s scholarships and student recipients, go to: secularstudents.org/scholarships/2025-recipients
FFRF has a variety of scholarships available to give directly to students for exceptional activism. If you know of any student who is actively helping to uphold state/church separation or fighting for the rights of nonbelievers, please use the form at ffrf.us/nominate.
The Freedom From Religion Foundation is a U.S.-based nonprofit dedicated to promoting the constitutional principle of separation between state and church and educating the public on matters of nontheism. With more than 42,000 members, FFRF advocates for freethinkers’ rights across the globe. For more information, visit ffrf.org.
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