Valedictorian tore up approved speech to recite the Lord's Prayer
Roy Costner IV, valedictorian at Liberty High School in Pickens County, South Carolina, ripped up his pre-approved graduation speech in June 2013 and recited the Lord's Prayer instead, after the district had recently ended formal prayer at board meetings under threat of suit. The district said it would not punish him.
At Liberty High School's June 1, 2013 graduation, valedictorian Roy Costner IV ripped his approved remarks at the podium and recited the Lord's Prayer in its entirety to applause from the crowd. The action came weeks after the Pickens County School Board, under threat of litigation from the Freedom From Religion Foundation, ended the practice of opening meetings with prayer. The district declined to take disciplinary action against Costner, and the video drew national attention.