Wisconsin Student Claims Graduation Speech Censored Bible Verse

WHO:

NY Post - Sarianne Beronja, a 2026 graduate of Arrowhead High School in Waukesha County.

Fox News - Superintendent Conrad Farner of Arrowhead High School.

Fox News - Wisconsin Institute for Law & Liberty (WILL), represented by Cory Brewer.

WHAT:

NY Post - Beronja submitted Proverbs 3:6 as her personal message for a graduation slideshow.

Fox News - School officials barred Beronja from including the Bible verse due to the district's neutrality policy.

Fox News - Beronja claimed that less than 24 hours before the ceremony, she was informed by an associate principal that religious messages were prohibited.

Fox News - Superintendent Farner stated that the graduation slideshow was meant for family thank-yous and future plans only.

Fox News - The school will no longer utilize a slideshow at graduation.

Fox News - WILL accused the district of violating Beronja's First Amendment rights and requested a policy change.

WHERE:

NY Post - Arrowhead High School, Waukesha County, Wisconsin.

Fox News - Arrowhead Union High School District.

WHY:

Fox News - Beronja alleged religious discrimination after her Bible verse was rejected.

Fox News - Superintendent Farner cited the need to avoid a disruptive environment at graduation as a reason for the policy.

HOW:

Fox News - The school district's policy prohibits religious and political messages in school-sponsored speech, as established by the 1988 Supreme Court ruling in Hazelwood School District v. Kuhlmeier.

(UPDATED July 1, 2026 15:54 UTC)

Sarianne Beronja, a 2026 graduate of Arrowhead High School in Waukesha County, was barred from including a Bible verse in her graduation slideshow due to the district's neutrality policy, which prohibits religious messages in school-sponsored speech. Just hours before the ceremony, an associate principal informed her of the restriction, leading to accusations of religious discrimination from the Wisconsin Institute for Law & Liberty, which is now calling for a policy change. In response, Superintendent Conrad Farner stated that the slideshow was intended solely for family thank-yous and future plans, and announced that the school will no longer use a slideshow at graduation.