American Atheists celebrates activism by awarding scholarships to students who engage in atheist activism in their communities and schools.

The application period for the 2020 Student Activist Scholarships closed on April 15, 2020. Winners will be announced shortly.

What are the Student Activist Scholarships?

The Student Activist Scholarship program was founded by Life Members Barbara J. Baldock, Dr. Phillip Butler, Lillian B. Ramsden, Rice O’Dell, and Irving Yablon. American Atheists awards two $1,000 O’Hair Scholarships and four $500 President’s Scholarships to atheist students in the United States. You do not have to be a U.S. citizen to be awarded a scholarship, but you do have to attend a U.S.-based institution.

American Atheists is also proud to award two $500 Chinn Scholarships for LGBTQ Atheist Activism that recognize atheist activism in the area of LGBTQ equality. Members of the LGBTQ community and allies are welcome to apply.

Who can enter?

Scholarships are open to current college or vocational students and to high school students entering college in the upcoming year. Full-time graduate and law school students are also eligible. Applicants for all awards must be atheists and must have a cumulative GPA of 2.5 or higher in academic subjects. Applicants of all races, ethnicities, genders, and sexual orientations are encouraged to apply.

Membership in American Atheists is not required to submit an application, but scholarship winners must be members to accept the awards. All applicants are offered a free one-year membership to American Atheists.

How to Apply

Applicants fill out the Scholarship Application Form and include an essay of 500–1,000 words detailing your activism in the past year, supporting documents that show evidence of your activism, and copies of your most recent school report card or transcript showing a GPA of at least 2.5.

Essays and supporting materials should summarize activism in the last year and show your activities, motivations, and commitment to atheist activism. Please note that merely writing an essay is not sufficient. This is about activism, and your essay should be about your actions for the cause of atheist civil liberties, defending the separation of religion and government, or promoting a positive view of atheism to the general public and your fellow students and faculty.