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Southampton students earn 43 New York State Seals of Biliteracy; Kodiak Tarrance is first in Shinnecock language
Summary
Southampton High School will award the New York State Seal of Biliteracy to 43 seniors this year, including Kodiak Tarrance, the district's first recipient in the Shinnecock language; presenters highlighted language distribution, multiple‑seal winners, and cultural preservation efforts.
The Southampton Union Free School District on Monday recognized 43 seniors who will receive the New York State Seal of Biliteracy on their diplomas and transcripts, and celebrated a historic first: Kodiak Tarrance earned the Seal in Shinnecock, presenters said.
Julie Williams, the district’s Director of Multilingual Culturally Responsive Education, opened the presentation by describing the Seal’s purpose as a recognition of “proficiency in more than one language” and “the value of diversity in multilingual society,” and said the program helps identify graduates with language skills for employers and universities.
Kristen Mencher presented district results for 2025–2026: 43 seniors will receive the Seal; among students who pursued the Seal, 93% earned it in one world language, 4% in two, and one student earned seals in three languages. Mencher gave a language breakdown: 73% of Seals were in Spanish, 10.9% in French, 4.3% in Portuguese, 2.2% in Italian and 2.2% in Shinnecock. She said 33.6% of the graduating class of 2026 will have the distinction on their diploma.
“Today, we are proud to recognize students who have earned the New York State Seal of Biliteracy, an achievement that reflects not only proficiency in more than one language, but also dedication, perseverance, and commitment to cultural understanding,” Julie Williams said.
The board honored students who earned multiple seals. Presenters called Valentina Alvarez and Ana Fernandez forward as recipients of double seals and recognized Beatrice Torres for earning a triple seal. Mencher described the students’ coursework and home‑language proficiencies that supported those distinctions.
Mencher and others singled out Kodiak Tarrance as the district’s first Seal recipient in the Shinnecock language. “Kodiak made history as the first recipient of the New York State Seal of Biliteracy in Shinnecock language,” Mencher said, calling the milestone significant for language preservation and the Shinnecock Nation’s collaboration with the district.
Students receiving awards briefly noted postsecondary plans — including Hofstra University, the University of Rhode Island and Suffolk University — and took photos with board members and administrators after they received medallions and certificates.
The Board of Education offered congratulations and had no follow‑up questions; the presentation concluded and the meeting moved to subsequent agenda items.
