Commencement 2025
Congratulations to our graduates from Fall/Winter 2024 and Spring/Summer 2025. What
a celebration it was at the Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum last night. The arena
was packed and the energy was through the roof. Honorifics and well-deserved accolades
were awarded to many of our students, and we recognized the dedication and loyalty
of Bob Van Nostrand (ā77) with the first Presidentās Medal for his many works and
generosity to 51³Ō¹Ļ. Valedictorian John Apollo offered his words
of wisdom to our students and Jacqueline Baker thrilled the crowd with her powerful
rendition of āA Million Dreams.ā We also welcomed members of our Golden Rams, alumni
of Farmingdaleās Class of 1975. I am particularly proud that we were able to offer
a diploma posthumously to the parents of Steffany Lopez, a student who passed away
late last year but had successfully completed the requirements for a Bachelor of Science
in Biological Sciences.
Ensuring appropriate pomp and circumstance with a respectful procession and then conferring
some 1600 degrees, while recognizing each student by name as they crossed the platform,
took time and we will be looking at approaches to shorten the overall program next
year.
On the FSC homepage, we've posted a link to a story that includes a and a video recording of the ceremony. Thank you to the Commencement Committee and
all the many, many folks who contributed to putting together this complex off-site
event. And thank you to the many faculty and staff who shared in this late-night venture
to celebrate with our students.
Robert S. Prezant, PhD
President
Professor of Biology
