Americans United presented its annual David Norr Youth Activist Award to Students Engaged in Advancing Texas (SEAT) — a youth-led organization leading a movement of young people fighting for education-policy change in Texas and beyond, including religious freedom and church-state separation in public schools.
AU President and CEO Rachel Laser and Amy Norr, chair of AU’s Board of Trustees and daughter of the award’s namesake, presented the award to several SEAT members at the Summit for Religious Freedom (SRF) in April. On hand to accept the award were SEAT leaders Hayden Cohen, Hudson Locke, Kayla Madrid, Sumya Paruchuri, Marshall Romero, and Cameron Samuels.
“When we set our mind to something, we get it done,” Sumya said during the awards presentation. “As students, we are the only ones that acutely understand how the blurring of church and state is affecting young people in our schools today.”
Named in honor of the late David Norr, a staunch advocate and supporter of Americans United and church-state separation for over 35 years, the award recognizes a young person, or group of young people, who goes above and beyond to advocate for the separation of church and state.
“My dad valued equal opportunity, education, hard work, and continuous learning,” Amy Norr said. “He firmly believed in investing in young people’s education and work. This award was created to carry on his legacy and honor his dedication to ensuring the separation of religion and government for and by the next generation.”
Anvika Jain, an advocate for religious freedom in Texas, and Kyria Santa, founder and president of Emory Secular Students at Emory University, were recognized with honorable mentions.
To watch the award presentation and to learn more about the David Norr Youth Activist Award, visit au.org/youthactivistaward.