I am excited to announce the launch of this year’s Student Contest! We are now accepting submissions of essays and videos from high school and college students, with first-place prizes of $1,500!
This year’s contest focuses on religious and nonreligious advocacy for the separation of church and state. Often decried as anti-religion by detractors, church-state separation in reality unites and protects people of all faiths and none. The United States has a long history of religious and nonreligious people advocating for this core constitutional principle and for religious freedom for all.
Students are invited to write a short essay or create a short video responding to this prompt: How and why do religious and/or nonreligious groups, on their own or together, advocate for the separation of church and state? How have they been successful, and what does their example mean for present and future advocacy for the separation of church and state?
Creativity is not only encouraged but required! Winning submissions will have a unique and compelling voice or perspective. With separate prize categories for high school and college students, you can win $500-$1,500. Winners also have the chance to be published in AU’s magazine and online.
Visit our website to learn more about the contest, the prizes and how to enter.
The contest is open to high school students and undergraduate students attending any 2- or 4-year college or university. Students must live in the United States including the 50 states, the District of Columbia, and the U.S. territories. The deadline to enter is Oct. 6, 2025.
If you are not an eligible student, please take a moment to share this contest with students you know. This is a great way to bring them into our movement for church-state separation.
For more information on this contest, please visit au.org/studentcontest. To see last year’s winning essays and videos, click here.
I can’t wait to see what students submit this year!
