Students from the Eastport-South Manor Central School District were recognized for their academic excellence and leadership during the Town of Brookhaven’s 35th annual Black History Night celebration.
Jaylin Pentzel, Oreoluwa Somosu, William Thomas and Pasha Wray were honored by the Brookhaven Town Board and Black History Commission for their outstanding academic achievement, dedication to learning and commitment to excellence. Each student earned a cumulative grade point average of 3.5 or higher, meeting the criteria required for recognition at the annual event.
The celebration highlighted not only academic success but also the students’ roles as positive influences within their school community. This year’s theme, “African Americans and Labor,” featured cultural performances, musical presentations and educational displays that explored the historical and ongoing contributions of Black Americans to the workforce and broader society.
Hosted annually, Black History Night draws students, families, educators and community leaders together to recognize achievement while promoting cultural awareness and appreciation. The event also included remarks from town officials and members of the Black History Commission, who emphasized the importance of education, perseverance and community engagement.
The recognition underscored both academic achievement and the importance of student leadership.
The Eastport-South Manor Central School District, located in Suffolk County and spanning 34 square miles across Brookhaven, Riverhead and Southampton, serves approximately 2,705 students from kindergarten through 12th grade. The district employs more than 600 staff members and provides students with access to Chromebooks, extracurricular activities and college-level coursework.
Students have access to advanced placement and college credit programs through partnerships with local colleges, while others participate in athletics, music and theater programs. More than 1,300 students are involved in interscholastic sports across dozens of teams, and hundreds participate in performing arts groups.
All students are provided with Chromebooks and access to digital platforms.