A Rhode Island student who fought for the removal of a prayer banner at her public high school in Cranston is getting an award named for Playboy founder Hugh Hefner. WPRO-AM reported that Jessica Ahlquist is among this year’s winners of the Hugh M. Hefner First Amendment Awards. She won in the education category for what a news release calls her ‘‘courageous and successful lawsuit.’’ A May 22 reception is scheduled at the Playboy Mansion. Winners get $5,000 and a plaque. Ahlquist, an atheist, was harassed and threatened for challenging the banner’s constitutionality.
CRANSTON, R.I.