A high school graduate who shared his Christian faith during his graduation speech briefly had his diploma withheld.

Micah Price, who graduated from Campbell County High School in Kentucky, thanked Jesus Christ and encouraged his fellow graduates to find God as well. In a video posted to TikTok, Price explained that he had gone off script when encouraging others to find God and that he chose to say this despite school officials asking him to remove the statement from his speech beforehand.

“After the speech was over, one of the principals came in, tapped me on the shoulder, very politely and professionally told me that I was going to have to go in front of the board and explain what I did because I went off script,” Price said.

Campbell County Schools Superintendent Shelli Wilson told the Washington Examiner that the school’s principal had asked for a meeting after the ceremony, to which Price agreed. Wilson clarified in an earlier statement that speakers who went off script could face repercussions, “as they would at any school function.”

“While I know, personally, that many of us are proud of this young man’s beliefs and are practicing Christians ourselves, the principal has to consider the possibilities of students going off the planned program,” Wilson said.

Price clarified he has no “bad blood” with any of the school officials and that they were “doing their job” with the discipline they gave him for going off script. Wilson has since received his diploma, he told the Washington Examiner.

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Video of the speech was shared on social media, with Price praising Jesus at the beginning of his speech followed by loud applause from the audience.

“Class, before another word leaves my mouth, I must give the honor, the praise, and the glory to my lord and savior, Jesus Christ, who in his very word tells us that he is the light, he is the way, the truth, and the life,” Price said. “Class, everyone in the audience today, I’m here to tell you if you don’t have any of those things in your life, you can’t seem to find the answer, my lord and savior is your answer. He will give you the truth, the way, and the life.”