Wisconsin high school alleged to have prohibited Bible verse at graduation

Wisconsin Graduate Claims Religious Discrimination Over Graduation Slideshow

A high school graduate from Wisconsin is alleging discrimination based on religion after being prohibited from including a Bible verse in the slideshow for her graduation ceremony. The school officials cited a neutrality policy they uphold.

Salian Belogna, who is set to graduate from Arrowhead High School in Waukesha County in 2026, had submitted a personal message featuring Proverbs 3:6, which states, “In all your ways acknowledge God, and he will direct your paths.” She intended for it to accompany her photo during the ceremony.

However, just 24 hours before graduation, the vice principal informed her that religious messages were not allowed. Belogna mentioned she was also told she couldn’t express gratitude to God for his support over the past four years.

“My faith has played a significant role in shaping who I am,” she expressed, noting how the verse has kept her grounded during her high school years.

Superintendent Conrad Furner explained that both religious and political messages were considered “school-sponsored speech” and were thus banned from the slideshow. He asserted that students had been clearly instructed to focus their messages on thanking their families and outlining their future plans.

“The boundaries were established in advance; we wanted to avoid turning the slideshow into a platform for religious or political views,” Furner stated, emphasizing that the presentation was designed for brief acknowledgments and future intentions. He referenced a Supreme Court ruling from 1988 that allows schools to restrict school-sponsored expression related to educational concerns.

Furner added that permitting political or religious statements could lead to a chaotic environment at graduation, particularly with students and parents potentially bringing signs or banners to express their beliefs.

Interestingly, Belogna claimed there had been instances in previous years where students included Bible verses in their messages during graduation. She and her mother are now seeking assistance from the Wisconsin Institute for Law and Liberty (WILL) in their effort to challenge the school district’s stance on religious expression.

“America was founded on the principle of religious freedom,” Belogna commented. “I believe schools shouldn’t treat students of faith any differently than others. It feels unfair that religious messages can be rejected while other personal messages are permitted.”

WILL has accused the district of violating the First Amendment rights of students. “When schools provide opportunities for students to express themselves, they cannot exclude religious viewpoints while allowing similar secular expressions,” they noted in a release, maintaining that Arrowhead High School had done just that.

WILL is urging the Arrowhead Union High School District to change its policy to ensure that students of faith receive equal constitutional protections as their peers. Cory Brewer, a deputy general counsel at WILL, commented, “It is unconstitutional to erase the perspectives of students of faith under the guise of ‘separation of church and state.’”