CRANSTON, R.I. — An atheist student who fought to have a prayer banner at her Rhode Island public high school removed is getting an award named for Playboy founder Hugh Hefner.



WPRO-AM reports Jessica Ahlquist is among this year's winners of the Hugh M. Hefner First Amendment Awards. She won in the education category for what a Tuesday news release calls her "courageous and successful lawsuit."



A May 22 reception is scheduled at the Playboy Mansion, in Los Angeles. An event publicist says Ahlquist will attend. Winners each get $5,000 and a plaque.



Ahlquist was threatened for challenging the Cranston school banner's constitutionality. She has spoken all over the United States about her legal fight. A humanist association raised $60,000 for a scholarship for her.



The Hefner awards were established in 1979 to honor people's contributions to protecting First Amendment rights.

-- The Associated Press