Chester Co. Student Wins 'Satanist' Scholarship

CHESTER COUNTY, PA — A Chester County high school student has won a unique award from the local group of Satanists for embodying "individualism, empathy, free-thought, and skepticism."

Satanic Delco chose Kennett High School senior Kylie Tracy and Ridley High School senior Adrian Gramatges as this year's recipients of the "Outsider Achievement Award."

The award recognizes students "who buck the status quo and embrace individualism, empathy, free-thought, and skepticism."

Gramatges submitted a live musical performance and an essay, and Tracy submitted photos and a short essay focused on the value of wonder.

Each student got a certificate and $666 in cash.

This year marks the fourth year of the award.

Applicants must choose one of the values of Outsider Satanism and elaborate on what that value means to them, and how it applies to their lives in an essay, poem, film, song, or other creative medium.

Those values are critical thinking and the pursuit of knowledge, balance, wonder, personal freedom, celebration of the self, justice, rebellion, and acceptance.

There are no specific requirements regarding word count, running time, or other criteria for submissions. The group says it values honest expression and emotional impact above all else.

In the past, Satanic Delco has provided kits to homeless Philadelphians, hosted a collection drive for the Domestic Abuse Project of Delaware County, and rallied for hungry Delconians.

The group is hosting its Dance with the Devil masquerade ball on Nov. 7 in Swarthmore. Tickets are available to the public online here.

With reporting from Patch correspondent Max Bennett