First of all I don’t understand why a school would have 15 valedictorians in the same class, but I digress.

Erica Corder was one of 15 valedictorians at Lewis-Palmer High School in Colorado in 2006. They each got 30 seconds to speak and when it came her turn her speech was to encourage the audience to get to know Jesus.

Oh, my! The entire faculty must have swooned at the same time! Her principal, Mark Brewer, told her if she didn’t apologize she wouldn’t receive her diploma, though she’d still be able to graduate.

On Monday Erica Corder sued the school district.

The lawsuit said Brewer would not give Corder her diploma until she included a sentence saying, “I realize that, had I asked ahead of time, I would not have been allowed to say what I did.” Corder received her diploma after complying.

The school district released a statement Wednesday saying officials reviewed Corder’s case when it happened in 2006 and also met several times with Corder and her parents.

“While we are disappointed that this matter has resulted in litigation, we are confident that all actions taken by school officials were constitutionally appropriate,” the statement said. “As a result, we intend to vigorously defend the claims. Beyond that, it is the district’s policy not to comment on pending litigation.”

Brewer, who now works for Douglas County schools, declined to comment Wednesday.

Corder is represented by attorneys affiliated with Liberty Counsel, an Orlando, Fla.-based group that says it is dedicated to advancing religious freedom.

Wanna bet if she had mentioned Muhammad and his “peaceful” religion she would have not been penalized?