Right to Read Scholarship

Scholarship Sponsored by Federal Attorney Rammy Barbari

Overview

The Right to Read Scholarship, established by Federal Attorney Rammy Barbari, supports students who defend intellectual freedom in response to rising book bans and censorship. The program highlights the importance of diverse perspectives in literature and encourages critical engagement with topics such as gender, race, and identity. Applicants are invited to share why protecting the right to read matters through a substantive essay. The scholarship recognizes voices that promote understanding over exclusion and celebrates prior winners who have advanced this conversation.

Description: A merit-based award recognizing students who advocate for intellectual freedom and oppose censorship through a written submission.

Award Value: $1,000 one-time scholarship to a selected recipient.

• Purpose: oppose censorship and promote diverse perspectives in literature
• Open to secondary and post-secondary students
• Award: single $1,000 prize
• Requires an essay addressing the ethics of banning literature

Eligibility

The scholarship is available to current high school seniors, vocational students, college students, and graduate students who are legal residents of the United States, including the 50 states and the District of Columbia. Eligible applicants must be enrolled in a vocational program or a two- to four-year post-secondary institution, and must maintain a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 in good academic standing. Employees of Federal Attorney Rammy Barbari, their immediate family members, and anyone living in the same household are ineligible to participate. Applicants should confirm they meet residency, enrollment, and relationship restrictions before applying.

Eligibility: Must be a U.S. legal resident enrolled in an eligible secondary or post-secondary program with a minimum 3.0 GPA; certain staff and household relationships are disqualified.

• Residency: U.S. legal residents in the 50 states or D.C.
• Enrollment: high school senior, vocational, undergraduate, or graduate student
• Academic standing: minimum 3.0 GPA required
• Disqualification: employees, immediate family, and household members of the sponsor

Application Requirements

Applicants must complete the official application form and submit all required materials by the stated deadline. A 750–1,000-word essay responding to the prompt about whether it is ever acceptable to ban literature is required, and all essays will be screened for AI-generated content; detection of AI writing will result in disqualification. Additional required materials include a professional résumé and an academic transcript; first-year college students or recent transfers may submit an unofficial transcript plus the most recent official transcript from their prior institution, and high school applicants may submit proof of college acceptance. Preference will be given to students from or attending secondary school in the state associated with the award.

Application Requirements: Complete application form, original essay (750–1,000 words), résumé, and transcript documentation; essays are subject to AI-authorship checks.

• Essay: 750–1,000 words on the ethics and consequences of banning literature
• AI policy: submissions will be checked and disallowed if AI-generated
• Supporting documents: résumé plus transcript (official or acceptable unofficial in specified cases)
• Preference: candidates from or attending secondary school in the state receive priority