Sabrina Steffans is a Christian student who leads the Bible club at her school loves to express her faith through artwork.
Grand Island High School has a tradition that allows seniors, for a fee, to reserve and decorate their parking space to “encourage students to express themselves through positive artwork, to beautify the campus, to build school spirit, and to create a new and exciting tradition to support Senior Class activities and events.” The only guidelines for what is not allowed include, “offensive language, pictures or symbols, negative or rude language, and ‘gang-style tagging.’” Wanting to use this opportunity to express her faith, Sabrina’s first parking space design included a drawing of Salvation Mountain and the phrases, “God is love,” “He loves you,” a cross, and John 14:6. But upon reviewing her submission, the school told her to remove the Bible verse because they consider the words inside her parking space design to be “government speech,” not private speech.
After the rejection of her first drawing, Sabrina submitted a second design with the words, “let your light shine”—with the “t” in the word “light” in the shape of a cross—the phrase, “His will, his way, my life,” and the Bible verse reference Jeremiah 29:11. But this design was also rejected. Sabrina was later told the phrase, “He is King,” would be approved as long as there was no religious connection. Her third and final parking space design was approved only after all Bible references and the name of God were removed.
In response to this blatant violation of Sabrina’s First Amendment rights, First Liberty Institute sent a demand letter in August.
After receiving the letter, the school reversed course and allowed Sabrina to paint her original design.
“We are pleased that the school district changed course and will allow Sabrina to truly express her deeply held religious beliefs in her design,” said Keisha Russell, Senior Counsel for First Liberty Institute. “The First Amendment protects students’ expressions of faith in public schools.”
News Release
For Immediate Release: 8.20.25
Contact: John Manning, media@firstliberty.org
Direct: 972-941-4453
New York High School Senior Can Add Bible Verse to Parking Space Design After Law Firm Sends Letter
Sabrina Steffans will proceed with her original design that was previously rejected by the school because of its religious references.
Grand Island, NY—Today, First Liberty Institute and the law firms Mayer Brown LLP and Ganguly Brothers Misula PLLC announced that the Grand Island Central School District will allow Sabrina Steffans to design her parking space with her original submission that included a Bible verse and religious images. The school’s tradition allows seniors, for a fee, to “express themselves” by decorating their parking space.
“We are pleased that the school district changed course and will allow Sabrina to truly express her deeply held beliefs in her design,” said Keisha Russell, Senior Counsel for First Liberty Institute. “The First Amendment protects students’ private expressions of faith in public schools.”
Sabrina is a rising senior at Grand Island, New York Senior High School who leads the Bible club at her school. The school has a tradition that allows seniors, for a fee, to reserve and decorate their parking space to “encourage students to express themselves through positive artwork, to beautify the campus, to build school spirit, and to create a new and exciting tradition to support Senior Class activities and events.” Sabrina submitted her parking space design as an expression of her Christian faith but it was rejected because it included a Bible verse and religious imagery. Today, attorneys for the Grand Island Central School District responded to the demand letter stating that Sabrina could proceed with her original design.
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About First Liberty Institute
First Liberty Institute is a non-profit public interest law firm and the largest legal organization in the nation dedicated exclusively to defending religious freedom for all Americans.
To arrange an interview, contact John Manning at media@firstliberty.org or by calling 972-941-4453.
Sabrina Steffans Headshot
Sabrina’s Parking Spot 1
Sabrina’s Parking Spot 2
Steffans’ Original Design
Other Students’ Parking Spots
Other Students’ Parking Spots
Other Students’ Parking Spots
Other Students’ Parking Spots
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