A growing number of high schools are moving to automate graduation name pronunciation with AI recordings delivered through personalized QR codes, but the approach is meeting community resistance. At Arlington’s Washington-Liberty High School, the district backtracked after pushback from parents and a teachers’ union president, who argued that outsourcing name pronunciation undermines belonging. In other districts, plans have continued despite petitions and concern about whether technology erodes tradition and personal recognition. The debate is occurring as public high school enrollment becomes more diverse, increasing the range of students’ linguistic and cultural backgrounds. The episode underscores a broader tension for K-12 and pre-college institutions using AI for accessibility and operational reliability while managing expectations around dignity, identity, and cultural competence at high-stakes events.