This summer, Farmingdale State College (FSC) was thrilled to partner with Adventureland Amusement Park, a leader in Long Island family fun since 1962, to offer FSC Family Fun Night at Adventureland to the campus community. The exciting evening featured Adventureland’s delicious park fare and renowned games, attractions, and rides, including the park’s newly unveiled Ram “Pirat” Ship--inspired by FSC’s beloved Ram-Bo.

“Farmingdale State College was elated to welcome over 200 members of the FSC community to Adventureland last Friday,” said Daniel Walsh, events coordinator in the Office of Events Management. “Guests ranged from faculty and staff to current and incoming students, to alums from recent years and decades past. Ram-Bo was on-hand to christen the redesigned pirate ship ride and we're so grateful to the good folks at Adventureland for all their help making Farmingdale Family Fun Night at Adventureland a success.”

The festivities concluded with a spectacular drone show, one of three first-ever shows hosted at the park this summer. Provided by Sky Elements, the largest drone light show provider in the United States, 100 drones delighted park guests, who watched a variety of dynamic images float 350 feet above Adventureland’s iconic Ferris wheel during the 10-minute show. 

"Adventureland was thrilled to host our friends from Farmingdale State College on Friday, July 17th," said Adventureland Park Manager Caitlin Disclafani. "It was the perfect summer night, made even more special by a visit from Ram-Bo and the drone show!"

Campus Community Perspectives

“I was super excited [when I saw the announcement for this event] because I felt like it was a great deal and our kids love to come here,” said FSC Assistant Director of Capital Projects and Construction Janine Gebbie, who attended with her sister and their children. “I think it’s wonderful. We’re especially looking forward to the drone show and getting some ice cream.” 

“I love this place,” said Jasika Jassi, ’30, an incoming nursing student, who attended with her sister and some friends. “I was planning to come here over the summer, so when I saw the email for this I immediately signed up…I knew there were benefits of being an FSC student; that's one of the reasons why I picked Farmingdale,” she added. “I have a deep connection with the community here, so when I learned about FSC’s Nursing Department and its strong connections in Long Island healthcare, I knew that's where I want to be. And I’ve [had a chance to meet other nursing students], so it already feels like a community. So, that's amazing.”

Brian Davico, ’30, an incoming security systems major, agreed that the evening was a great opportunity to get connected before fall classes start. “I think that meeting new people is important because you're leaving all your friends from high school behind,” said Davico, who attended with his sister. “I do feel I’ll be more comfortable going into my first classes after today.” 

FSC Executive Assistant Katie Brown, who attended with her family, said the evening was the perfect time to enjoy her children’s favorite rides and see colleagues outside of campus. “It’s nice to see everybody, even people that I don't see as often at work,” she said. “I recognize a lot of faces and it’s lovely to see them with their families. It’s fun spotting Farmingdale green all over the park.” 

“I was very excited [when I saw the announcement for this event,” agreed FSC Science, Technology, and Society Department Chair and Associate Professor of Physics Edmund “Ned” Douglass, PhD, who attended with his wife and their two young children. “You see Adventureland across the street all the time. And you hear the screams and laughter. So, I've always looked forward to the four of us coming here after school and after summer camp. And it feels really nice to have the Farmingdale community out beyond the campus.”

“Family Fun Night at Adventureland was especially meaningful because I got the chance to take my little sister out for her birthday,” shared Ayomidire “Ayo” Bolaji, ’27, a criminal justice, politics, legal studies major. “Watching her have fun and seeing how excited she was throughout the day made the experience even more special. It was the perfect way to spend quality time together and create another unforgettable memory together.” 

For Jaiden Stowe, ’30, an incoming business management major who attended with her brother, seeing FSC Admissions Advisor Bryan Etienne and Ram-Bo were the biggest highlights of the evening. “I’ve seen a bunch of my friends who are going to Farmingdale tonight and I talked to Bryan when I first came in,” she said. “He's so sweet and so nice. I had a few questions on a bunch of different things and he was very helpful with everything. And I even saw Ram-Bo and got some pictures with him and my friends. Everyone wanted a picture with him. It feels like meeting a celebrity! Overall, I think this is a great event to get everyone in the campus community involved.”

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