Background: Four years ago, Somers High School changed its policy regarding athletic signing day celebrations, limiting formal signing day ceremonies to only Division I and Division II athletes who sign athletic scholarship agreements. Division III committed athletes are now recognized only at the end-of-year senior awards ceremony, rather than receiving the same signing day recognition as their DI and DII peers.

Our Position: We, the undersigned parents and community members, respectfully request that Somers High School reinstate signing day recognition for ALL student-athletes committing to play collegiate sports, regardless of division or scholarship status.

Our Reasoning: 

• The NCAA Explicitly Supports D3 Signing Day Celebrations: The NCAA provides an official "Division III Celebratory Signing Form" specifically designed for high schools to recognize D3 commitments (Division III Celebratory Signing Form). This demonstrates that the NCAA itself considers D3 commitments worthy of formal signing day recognition, contradicting the notion that only scholarship athletes deserve this honor.
• Equal Achievement Deserves Equal Recognition: The NCAA reports that only 7.5% of high school athletes advance to play varsity sports in college. This statistic includes Division III athletes. The dedication, work ethic, and achievement required to compete at the collegiate level is extraordinary—regardless of division.
• The Current Policy Creates an Arbitrary Hierarchy: Distinguishing athletes based on whether they receive athletic scholarship money versus academic/merit aid is a technicality that has nothing to do with athletic achievement. A student who commits to compete at the collegiate level has accomplished something remarkable, period.
• Timing Matters: Division III athletes often commit during the same timeframes as DI and DII athletes. Delaying their recognition until senior awards—potentially months after the commitment—diminishes the significance of the moment and separates these students from their peers who receive immediate recognition.
• Division III Represents Strong Values: Division III athletes have chosen an educational model that prioritizes the integration of academics, athletics, and community engagement. Many D3 athletes turn down athletic scholarship opportunities to attend institutions that better align with their academic and career goals. This maturity and prioritization of education should be celebrated, not relegated to secondary status.
• Our Athletes Are Being Excluded While Other Schools Celebrate: Many high schools across the country recognize D3 commitments during signing day ceremonies, utilizing the NCAA's celebratory signing form. Locally, neighboring schools including Ellington High School, Suffield High School, and Rockville High School all host signing day events to celebrate ALL committed athletes, including Division III commits. Our current policy puts Somers High School out of step with both peer institutions in our own area and the NCAA's own guidance, placing our D3 athletes at a disadvantage in terms of recognition compared to their counterparts at nearby schools.
• School Spirit and Community: Signing day celebrations bring together students, families, and the school community to celebrate achievement. Excluding some athletes from these meaningful moments weakens school spirit and sends a harmful message about whose accomplishments we value.

Our Request: 

We ask that Somers High School immediately reinstate signing day recognition for Division III committed athletes, utilizing the NCAA Division III Celebratory Signing Form, and allowing them to celebrate this milestone alongside their DI and DII peers during the appropriate signing periods throughout the year.

All student-athletes who commit to competing at the collegiate level deserve equal recognition for their extraordinary achievement.