A California salutatorian was told he could not thank Jesus in his graduation speech, because it was deemed "inappropriate" for its use of religious language. As he addressed his peers the young man did what any American who knows their constitutional rights would do - he disregarded school officials and thanked God anyway.

"The first and second draft speeches proposed oppose government case law and are a violation of the Constitution," read a warning letter that was given to 18-year-old Brooks Hamby. "The district is advising you that reference to religious content is inappropriate and that the two drafts provided will not be allowed."

Hamby told Fox News,"I went home and thought, time is ticking down. I wanted to impart something that would be meaningful and having some lasting positive impact."

The young man was adamant about not compromising his "faith."

"I wasn't interested in removing every trace of God or Jesus. I wasn't interested in conforming to those demands. I did not want to compromise my values. I didn't want to water down the message," he told Fox.

Hamby is headed for Stanford University and was given the honor of being his high school's salutatorian for his exceptional work, but his troubles started last Monday shortly after he was informed that he had been selected.

He was told to turn in his speech on Wednesday (the day before graduation) so that school officials could approve.

Fox reports that the first draft of his speech was written in the form of a prayer. "Heavenly Father, in all times, let us always be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ has forgiven us."

After submitting the first draft Hamby was called to the front office, where a counselor notified him that the speech had been rejected. So he wrote a second draft that he turned in later that day. That draft disclosed the school's censorship of his original speech.

"Certain interpretations of the law, school policies and conditions have stifled my ability to speak freely to you this evening and prohibited me from doing otherwise," he wrote. "However, if I could pray with you this evening, I would say something along these lines."

On Thursday morning, just hours before graduation, The young man and his parents were called into a meeting with the principal. The Hamby's were given a notice from the district advising them that if their son "interjects religious content, the sound will be cut off, and a disclaimer to the entire audience must be made explaining the district's position."

After the meeting, Hamby spoke with his pastor at Western Avenue Baptist Church.

"We talked and brainstormed for a while and prayed for guidance and direction on what to do in words and actions," Hamby said.

Afterward, Hamby delivered a third version of his speech to the superintendent, which was also rejected. He was emailed a copy of the speech with every religious reference marked out in black.

He went home and realized he did not have much time left, he told the reporter, "I wanted to impart something that would be meaningful and having some lasting positive impact."

The Stanford bound student did not want to be rebellious or pegged a trouble-maker, he said, "I did not want to compromise my values but I wanted to work with them as much as possible," he said.

So he wrote a fourth version of his speech. At 5:09 p.m. he emailed the speech to the superintendent, principal and counselor. By the time he stood before his fellow graduates, he had not received a reply.

"In simply coming before you today, I presented three drafts of my speech - all of them denied on account of my desire to share my personal thoughts and inspiration to you in my Christian faith," he told his fellow graduates as he stood before them. "In life, you will be told no. In life, you will be asked to do things that you have no desire to do. In life, you will be asked to do things that violate your conscience and your desire to do what is right."

He concluded his remarks by referencing the Bible and wishing well on his peer by asking God to bless them although it was in defiance of the school's administrators.

"So I will leave you with this, with a quote from the biggest best-selling book of all time in history: 'You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot,'" he said. "Be the salt of the earth, be strong and stand for your convictions and do what is right, ethical, moral, and Godly, no matter the cost to you."

"May the God of the Bible bless each and every one of you every day in the rest of your lives," he said.

Hamby was allowed to finish his remarks uninterrupted and by the cheers heard from his peers no one seem offended by his bold actions.

Attorney for the Liberty Institute, Hiram Sasser, told Fox News the young scholar was on firm legal ground to deliver the original version of his speech.

"It is outrageous that a government school official would demand that a salutatorian submit his speech for government review for the purpose of censoring religious speech," Sasser said.

After the attention his act of defiance has generated Hamby said, "I would tell young Christians to be bold and always speak with gentleness and kindness, to leave the sweet taste of Christ in their mouths, allow them to want and search for more."

Watch Hamby's Graduation speech below: