FSC Gathers for ‘Tail-Great’ Schedule of School Spirit Events
Farmingdale State College (FSC) “welcomed home” alumni, students, faculty, and staff with its Homecoming 2023 celebration, which spanned several days and encompassed a variety of exciting school pride events.
“We are delighted to this year to have offered an enriching variety of experiences and carry on a wonderful tradition of welcoming back our alumni, and our campus community, to celebrate FSC,” said Executive Dean for Student Engagement Kevin Murphy RN, MSN.
“We put together an amazing schedule for Homecoming 2023,” agreed Frank Rampello, Dean of Students. “There was something for everyone to enjoy and display FSC spirit and pride.”
Talks on Tap
Festivities began Thursday, September 28, 2023, with Talks on Tap, an FSC Alumni Association evening presentation with Robert Saunders, PhD, SUNY Distinguished Professor and professor in the Department of History, Politics, and Geography, at 317 Main Street in Farmingdale. Professor Saunders shared his research, experiences, and stories on the politics, economics, and geographies of beer in the United States and abroad, including how beer consumption and cultural identity are often deeply intertwined. Professor Saunders is a leading scholar of popular geopolitics and an internationally recognized researcher in nation branding.
Athletic Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony
On Friday, September 29, 2023, FSC received one dozen new honorees into the Athletic Hall of Fame for their positive impacts on FSC’s intercollegiate athletic program, during its annual Farmingdale State Athletic Hall of Fame induction ceremony held in the Campus Center Ballroom. "It was an amazing night," said Tom Azzara, director of athletics. "Listening to the bios being read, you sometimes forget how amazing these 12 honorees are, and what they have meant to Farmingdale State College. It was a great way to kick off Homecoming Weekend, to say the least."
Go Rams!
The FSC community gathered again on Saturday, September 30, 2023, to cheer on its sports teams and enjoy a special tailgate event at Nold Athletic Complex. The day included alumni lacrosse, baseball, and tennis games; in addition to collegiate women’s soccer, and tennis games, and a men's soccer game. The tailgate offered family friendly fun, including a DJ, food trucks, ice cream, and inflatables, and a beer garden.
“I think it’s nice that new members of the school and alumni get together and share experiences, and get to learn about each other,” said Daniel Deutsch, ’24, a science, technology, and society major. “[Our] baseball team wanted to come and spend time together and get to meet baseball alum.”
“It’s so important that alumni get to come back to their roots and pass traditions along to younger generations of Rams,” said Nicole Farber ’12, a senior administrative assistant at Naval Nuclear Laboratory and a 2023 Athletic Hall of Fame inductee who traveled from her home in Glenmont, New York.
Football Fun at FSC
Homecoming continued Monday, October 2, 2023, with a morning “Ram Combine” on the Great Lawn and an evening showing of ESPN’s Monday Night Football with ManningCast, hosted by Peyton and Eli Manning, and food trucks on the Campus Center Back Lawn. The Ram Combine featured a variety of stations designed to mimic a National Football League (NFL) pre-draft combine and test participants’ athleticism, skills, and strength.
A Conversation with Eli Manning, Homecoming 2023’s monumental feature event, gave FSC’s campus community the chance to hear from NFL Super Bowl Champion and MVP Eli Manning. During a sit-down conversation with John S. Nader, PhD, president of FSC, in Nold Athletic Complex, Manning discussed his experiences playing for the New York Giants, his latest media work, what it was like growing up in the Manning family, coaching his children’s sports teams, and his thoughts on mental preparation, leadership, and philanthropy. After the event. Manning stayed for a ticketed Meet and Greet session in the Auxiliary Gym.
“No stranger to the demands of on-field leadership and the importance of personal discipline, and mental resilience through achieving his goals, he displayed an incredible work ethic and leadership skills through 16 years in the NFL,” said President Nader. “We are pleased to conclude our 2023 festivities for homecoming on such a high note and share our campus celebration of excellence and school spirit with a genuine sports icon.”
View more photos from Homecoming 2023 on our Flickr Gallery.
