A Colorado high school senior who challenged her school’s rule against religious artwork in student parking spaces has now won the right to display her Christian-themed design.
Sophia Shumaker, a senior at Rampart High School in Colorado Springs, had asked in August to decorate her reserved parking spot with a design inspired by Jesus’ parable of the lost sheep. Every year, seniors at the school are allowed to pay for and personalize their parking spaces with approved artwork.
Shumaker’s original design featured a shepherd, a staff, and sheep, along with the Bible verse reference 1 Corinthians 13:4. However, school officials rejected it, citing a district policy that banned religious imagery. She said she was disappointed and felt singled out, especially since other students were free to express their identities through their artwork.
“I was upset because other people got to express themselves, and my faith is a huge part of who I am,” Shumaker told Fox News Digital.
After hearing about the assassination of Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk in September, Shumaker said she was motivated to take a stand. “I’ve followed Charlie Kirk for as long as I can remember,” she said. “He really encouraged me to speak out about what’s right, and that inspired me to keep pushing.”
With help from the First Liberty Institute, a Texas-based legal group that defends religious freedom, Shumaker sent a formal letter to the district. The organization argued that the school’s policy violated the First Amendment and pointed out that other schools in the same district had allowed Christian symbols on parking spot designs.
“The seniors’ artwork is private expression, not government speech,” First Liberty wrote in a letter to the district’s superintendent and principal. “The district cannot restrict religious expression without violating the Constitution.”
On Tuesday, First Liberty announced that the district had agreed to revise its policy. Shumaker will now be allowed to repaint her space with her original Christian-themed design.
“The First Amendment protects students’ right to express their faith,” said Keisha Russell, senior counsel at First Liberty. “We’re encouraged that the district will now allow students like Sophia to include religious themes in their artwork, and we hope they make this policy permanent.”
The district confirmed that it would update its policy “to keep things clear and fair for all students.” It also stated that, going forward, schools will permit artwork reflecting a student’s personal viewpoint—including religious expression—so long as it meets general guidelines prohibiting offensive content or references to drugs, violence, or gangs.
Russell said she hopes this case inspires other students to defend their beliefs. “It shows how important it is to stand firm in your values,” she said. “We want young people across the country to know their voices matter.”
A similar situation unfolded earlier this year in New York, where another senior successfully fought to display a Bible verse on her school parking space.