The Secular Student Association has announced its 2025 scholarship awards . EHST sponsored an award this year, and the recipient is Emma. She is a Political Science Pre-Law student at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, with growing interest in shifting her studies toward Social Work to align with her career goals. Her passion lies in affordable housing, whether as a service provider, ethical developer, or urban planner. She has already worked with Housing & Neighborhood Development in local government, supported homelessness prevention programs, and addressed the Guilford County Commissioners to advocate for rental assistance. Her guiding principle is to live a life rooted in impact, securing housing for others and offering kindness where it is needed most.
Her secular identity falls between agnostic and atheist. As a Black woman, she has wrestled with the idea of a God who could allow atrocities such as slavery or the Holocaust without intervention. She believes morality comes from human responsibility rather than scripture, and this conviction continues to shape her advocacy and service.
Gender, sexuality, and race intersect deeply with her worldview. As a lesbian, she questions why love is condemned as sinful while hatred is excused. As a woman, she resists narratives that diminish or subjugate women. And as a Black American, she rejects traditions historically weaponized against her ancestors. These realities have made her unwilling to accept systems that demand obedience at the cost of dignity.
Emma’s activism reflects these values. She has helped secure $400,000 in rental assistance funding from Guilford County, participated in the Homelessness Memorial March, and volunteered as a Court Watcher to connect tenants with legal and social resources. This year, she is serving as Vice President of Community Outreach and Advocacy for UNCG’s Residence Hall Association, interning with Root Legal in Miami, and assisting with a City Council campaign in Greensboro. For Emma, the Secular Student Alliance provides community in resisting Christian nationalism and affirming secular values. Scholarship support eases financial pressure from her single-parent household, allowing her to focus on her studies and long-term goal of advancing housing justice.
