On Friday, May 22, 2026, Farmingdale State College (FSC) held its 105th annual commencement at Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Uniondale, New York.

More than 10,000 FSC campus community members, including leadership, faculty, staff, students, family, and friends, attended the morning festivities at the iconic Long Island stadium, as well as New York State Senator Monica Martinez and New York State Assemblymember Kwani O'Pharrow, who offered remarks, and several 50th reunion alumni attendees.

Presiding over the event were FSC President Robert S. Prezant, PhD; Senior Vice President and Provost Sean Lane, PhD; College Council Chair Patricia Hill Williams, EdD; State University of New York Trustee James Katz; Associate Professor of Business Management Martin Lewison, PhD, as master of ceremonies; and Faculty Presiding Officer and Physics Department Chair Lloyd Makarowitz, PhD, as grand marshal.

In total, FSC proudly celebrated the conferral of nearly 2131 degrees over the 2025-2026 academic year:

• Bachelors: 1869
• Masters: 8
• Associates: 206
• Advanced Certificates: 48

“Today is both a culmination, as you wrap up your time at Farmingdale, and a beginning, as you embrace all that comes next.  It is a moment that reflects years of dedication, resilience, and growth, and one that opens doors to your future,” said President Prezant, who noted the importance of embracing change for good, enduring optimism, and a clear sense of perspective. “Your Farmingdale education is more than a credential. It is a foundation—one that has equipped you not only with knowledge in your discipline, but with the ability to think critically, to adapt, and to navigate complexity.

“We are proud of you—not only for what you have achieved, but for who you have become, and we can’t wait to see what you do next,” President Prezant added.

During the ceremony, several campus community members received recognition including this year’s State University of New York Chancellor’s Award for Student Excellence recipients; the 2025-2026 Academic Excellence Award winners; and Murray Pasternack, Class of 1960, who was awarded an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters from SUNY.

“I have been incredibly fortunate to live the American Dream, and it all began with the education and inspiration I received at Farmingdale. Today, I hope to pass some of that same inspiration on to you,” said Pasternack, who urged graduates to embrace lifelong learning. “Your education doesn’t end here; it is only just beginning….and I wish you all the success that I have been fortunate to achieve with a degree from this outstanding institution.”

“Mr. Pasternack’s achievements and generosity stand as an enduring example for our graduates and for generations to come,” said President Prezant.

In his address, Class of 2026 Valedictorian Robert Belkin, ’26, a security systems major, shared his personal experience as a New York City bus operator, who “felt a desire to strive further.”

“When I look back at the person I was when I first walked onto this campus, uncertain, overwhelmed, and unsure if I even belonged in college, I realize how much this community changed me,” he said. “Farmingdale didn’t just give me an education. It gave me direction. It gave me purpose. It gave me a future… Every one of us has the strength to rise higher than we ever thought possible. Our stories are just beginning and they’re bigger than our fears, stronger than our setbacks, and brighter than anything we once believed was out of reach.”

Student Perspectives
Anthony LaCalamita, 26, a horticultural technology management major, said he felt very supported by FSC’s Urban Horticulture and Design Department and the applied learning opportunities it offered.  

“Right now, I’m feeling a calm excitement,” he said. “Like, I'm excited, but it's kind of toned down a little bit because I feel prepared through my major for what my next steps in my career and future are going to be. In my department, I think the student-to-faculty ratio was really good, especially in being able to tailor my student experience. I had two internships, and I had my capstone, so that was even more tailored and specific to what I was looking for at the end of my education. I have my job lined up and from there I'm working on getting some additional certifications,” added LaCalamita, who hopes to one day become an environmental conservation officer. 

Ashley Michelle Menendez, ’26, a business analytics major, agreed her FSC experience, including serving as secretary of the Student Government Association, has her feeling well prepared for the future. “I’m so emotional,” said Menendez. “I’m a first-generation student and I’m just so excited to walk with my family viewing me, seeing me walk that stage. And also, I feel a little emotional too because even though [my time at FSC] hasn’t officially finished, I already miss it,” added Menendez, who is now enrolled in FSC’s new Master of Science in Construction Management Program and hopes to one day help expand her father’s construction business.

For Brianny Luna Herrera, ’26, a global business management major, her feelings of pride were also shared with her loved ones. “I'm the first one in my family to graduate college,” she said. “My mom wanted to get into business, but then she got pregnant with me, and now I'm doing business.

"[In my department] we were able to work with some small businesses and get a good feeling of what it's like to work in an actual business environment. We worked with a woman in Panama, and she was great. She had a lot of love for her business. We saw how we could grow it more and expand it more in her marketing,” added Herrera, who looks forward to a career where she can “help other people, travel the world, and meet people of many different cultures.”

“This morning, everyone in my house was just so happy, everyone was so excited,” shared Milena Ochoa Vasquez, ’26, a science, technology, and society major. “I’m also first-gen for my family, so it’s their first time attending one of these things,” added Ochoa Vasquez, who hopes to pursue a career in the field of nursing.

Anthony Gagliardi, ’26, a business management major, shared that he is looking forward to his first postgraduate role as an assistant project manager. “I have a job lined up already, so I’m excited,” he said. “I really enjoy working in a team environment. I come from a restaurant background, [and wanted to pursue a new field] and at Farmingdale I was able to accomplish exactly what I came to do. I’m glad I came [to FSC to pursue my degree], it’s where I found my opportunity.” 

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