Farmingdale State College Announces its President's CARES Award Winners

Farmingdale State College President Dr. John S. Nader announced the winners of the 2022 President’s Commendation and Recognition for Excellence in Service (CARES) awards at the Fall 2022 Convocation held on August 24. 

The CARES Awards honor members of the Farmingdale State College community “whose efforts and achievements demonstrate an exemplary commitment to the college community, service beyond what is considered a normal part of one's job description, and an attitude of caring and selflessness,” according to the College.

The winners represent the faculty, classified, and professional staff. Contenders were nominated by their peers.

FACULTY

Kathryn Machin, a Senior Assistant Librarian, is this year’s faculty winner. This is her fifth year at FSC; she is a resident of Central Islip and earned her degree at Queens College of the City University of New York. A nominating letter described Machin’s extensive efforts not only to help students and staff members with academic-related issues, but the greater community as well.

“Kathy goes above and beyond in working with faculty on their assignments and in her follow-up support of students,” the letter said, noting that she often searches for quiet places for students who need to complete assignments or meet with faculty members.

Machin’s efforts go beyond the college’s grounds. “Kathy has consistently demonstrated an impact to the Farmingdale community by her involvement in the Sharing Shelf at the library as well as in her work on the FSC Feed the Hunger initiative,” according to her nominating letter. “She has been a longstanding contributor to community efforts to feed the less fortunate and has made this her lifelong mission.”

In addition, Machin has served on several governance committees, taken a lead role in SUNY initiatives, and created and managed library working groups, the letter noted. She is a member of the Planning and Budget committee as co-chair of the Committee on Planning and Resource Allocation (CPRA), which currently is developing a new FSC strategic plan. She also secured a Students First Grant to provide a service lending supplies and materials to students going on job interviews.

“Kathy gives her all when she is involved in her committee work, always seeking to learn more and understand the mission at hand,” according to the letter.

Machin also has continued her own academic pursuits. While at FSC, Machin completed her second master’s degree in applied liberal arts and sciences, co-authored a book chapter, and presented on a variety of library-related topics at external and internal conferences.

CLASSIFIED

The winner in the classified division is David Maldonado, a Plant Utilities Assistant who works in the heating plant department. The Valley Stream resident has worked at Farmingdale for three years and is a graduate of Kingsborough Community College of the City University of New York.

In his nomination letter, Maldonado is described as an extremely hard worker who is always willing to help others. “He comes to work every day with a smile on his face,” according to his nomination.  “He puts in extra hours because he is always looking to learn and grow. Mr. Maldonado takes his job seriously. He continuously tries to find ways to improve upon the campus.”

Maldonado showed the same dedication at his previous job at the Long Island Equal Opportunity Commission (EOC).  “When working as a cleaner for the Long Island EOC, he would replace light bulbs in offices that were not replaced in years; he replaced batteries in office clocks, he would wipe down offices during COVID, he moved furniture to free up space in coworkers' offices,” according to the letter.  “He made the workplace feel welcoming. He truly is a kind-hearted individual who just looks to make the work environment a better and safer space… He is an asset to any position he takes on.”

PROFESSIONAL

The winner in the professional category is Tamara Sooknauth, a Senior Academic Advisor in the Science, Technology and Society (STS) Department who has worked at FSC for the past 10 years.

“On a campus as amazing as Farmingdale, where we are all fortunate to be surrounded by kind, compassionate, and caring individuals, identifying someone who stands out is sometimes not easy- except in this case!” said one nominating letter. “She makes everyone she interacts with feel like family and there is nothing she won’t do to help. You will never hear Tamara ask you to wait or tell you that she is too busy to help a student.”

Sooknauth, a Syosset resident, earned degrees at FSC and SUNY Stony Brook.

“She is very familiar with the STS old and new curriculums, the prerequisite requirements for all courses, and the academic requirements of other departments, as well as medical schools or graduate schools to which students might apply before graduation,” another person wrote.

A former student talked about Sooknauth’s help in shaping her plans at FSC and beyond. “Mrs. Sooknauth has advised me twice a year for the last three years and I honestly do not know if I would have been able do all this without her,” the student wrote. “Every time we met, we discussed my progress and went over my future. Throughout my time in Farmingdale, Mrs. Sooknauth helped me figure out exactly what I want to do in my career and what I need to do to reach my goals step-by-step, even after I graduate from Farmingdale. There are a few times in your life that you meet someone who doesn’t just care about their job but is passionate about it. Mrs. Sooknauth has made such an impact on my past, present, and future, and I could not be thankful enough for all she has done for me.”