Freethought Heroine Award

In April 1998, a 15-year-old student made national headlines for refusing to stand for the religious pledge of allegiance in her California classroom. Since then, MaryKait Durkee, with the support of her mother, Nann, and her grandfather, filed suit to successfully defend her right to freedom of conscience, with the help of the ACLU.

The Freedom From Religion Foundation made MaryKait Durkee its youngest recipient of the annual Freethought Heroine award, "in recognition of her defense of freedom of conscience." MaryKait accepted her award in person at the 1998 national convention of the Freedom From Religion Foundation, meeting in Madison, Wisconsin. At the time she was given the award, MaryKait Durkee was a 16-year-old junior at Fallbrook High School with dreams of becoming a veterinarian.

For the full speech click here

Photo by Brent Nicastro