Congratulations to our 2025 scholarship recipient. Find out more about our previous winner here!
In an era where access to information is more vital than ever, the rise in book bans represents a troubling trend toward censorship. Federal Attorney Rammy Barbari believes that education should expand horizons, not restrict them. The 2026 Right to Read Scholarship was created to address the growing suppression of books that tackle essential topics such as gender, race, and identity. Every student deserves the right to see themselves reflected in literature and to learn from perspectives different from their own.
We are offering a $1,000 award to a student who is passionate about intellectual freedom and the dangers of restricted speech. Whether you are a high school senior or currently enrolled in college, Federal Attorney RAmmy Barbari wants to hear your voice on why the “Right to Read” must be protected. Join us in celebrating our previous winners and help us continue the conversation on how we can foster a society that chooses understanding over exclusion.
Application Deadline: January 31, 2027
Award Amount: $1,000
Eligibility
- The scholarship is available to all current high school seniors, vocational students, college students, or graduate students who are legal residents of the United States. Eligible applicants must reside in one of the 50 states or the District of Columbia. They must be enrolled in a vocational program or a two to four-year post-secondary institution.
- Individuals employed by Federal Attorney Rammy Barbari, along with their immediate family members (including parents, children, siblings, and spouses), as well as anyone residing in the same household (related or not), are not eligible to take part in the competition.
- Applicants for this scholarship must maintain a minimum GPA of 3.0 and be in good academic standing overall.
Application Requirements
- The candidate must fill out the form below with all necessary information
- The candidate must submit a 750-1,000-word essay response to the prompt: Is it ever okay to ban literature? The banning of books goes against our freedom of expression, and censorship limits our ability to form our own judgments and beliefs. Do you think that it is ever okay to censor publications? Why or why not?
- Please note that we will check all essays for AI writing. If we detect AI-generated writing in the essay, we will deny the application.
- The candidate must submit a professional resumé that lists their experience, both professional and academic.
- The candidate must submit a transcript from their current school. First-year college students, graduate students, or individuals who have recently transferred schools may submit an unofficial transcript from their current school, along with the most recent official transcript from their prior school. High school students can submit proof of acceptance to their college or university.
- Preference will be given to students either from or attending secondary school in the state.
The recipient of the 2026 Right to Read Scholarship will be chosen during the month following the scholarship deadline.
For all scholarship-related inquiries, please use this contact form. We are unable to answer scholarship questions by phone, email, or through any other contact forms listed on this website.
