Grand Island Students’ Stand For Faith Sparks National Headlines and Praise
BUFFALO, N.Y. — Another victory for religious freedom has been won in upstate New York. High school senior Sabrina Steffans of Grand Island was initially told she could not decorate her paid school parking space with Bible verses and Christian symbols. But after legal intervention, the district reversed its decision—allowing her to keep her original design without edits.
Sabrina’s design includes the phrases “God is love” and “He loves you,” along with a cross and a reference to John 14:6, where Jesus declares: “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”
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At first, Grand Island Central School District rejected Sabrina’s submission, citing the religious content. But attorneys from First Liberty Institute quickly responded, sending a letter to school officials explaining that censoring her faith-based expression was unconstitutional. Within a week, the district relented.
“We are pleased that the school district has changed course and will allow Sabrina to truly express her deeply held beliefs in her design,” said Keisha Russell, Senior Counsel for First Liberty.
The story has since captured national attention, with outlets like Fox News and CBN covering Sabrina’s bold stand. Evangelist Franklin Graham also highlighted her story, writing:
“At Sabrina Steffans‘ high school near Buffalo, NY, seniors are supposed to be able to create a design on their paid parking spot. But Sabrina was told her design with a cross and a Bible verse was definitely a no-go due to ‘religious references.’ The school said they were ‘fostering an inclusive school environment that respects the rights and dignity of all students.’ Sounds like they meant all students except Christians! Sabrina got in touch with the great team at First Liberty Institute who wrote a letter to the school district, and the decision was reversed! Thank you First Liberty for defending students’ First Amendment rights—and thank you Sabrina, for your desire to share God’s love with others!…
Sabrina’s victory reminds us all that the Constitution protects students’ right to live out and share their beliefs—even in simple acts like painting a parking space.
For Sabrina, it means starting her senior year with the bold message of God’s love greeting classmates each day. For the rest of the nation, her courage serves as an inspiration to stand firm in faith when challenged.
