As primarily a commuter school, keeping students engaged and involved is not the easiest of tasks, but for Lukas Miedreich, director of student activities at Farmingdale State College (FSC), the task has proven to be straightforward. With more than 100 events happening on campus over the last year, Miedreich and his team made sure there was something for everyone.
Hosting events such as Hispanic Heritage Block Party, Soul Food Café, and Black Empowerment Gala helps to ensure all students feel represented and celebrated on campus. The team goes the extra mile, incorporating cultural elements like women-owned food trucks for Women’s History Month and Hawaiian poke bowls for Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Month.
Aside from FSC’s diverse student population, most of its student body are commuters, with about 75% working while attending classes and managing extracurricular activities. “Some students may only have an hour in their day to engage in a student activity- related event,” said Miedreich. “So, we make sure there is always something for them to do, even if it’s a food truck so they don’t need to stop somewhere to grab lunch.”
“We want to make sure students feel comfortable here,” said Miedreich, which means being intentional and inclusive, such as having brown paper bags available at events during Ramadan so students can pack a meal for later. The Office of Student Activities (OSA) is committed to fostering a strong, connected FSC community, bringing students together through engaging events and initiatives.
“OSA has provided incredible support to the student body, from giving us autonomy as student leaders to flourish and explore within our clubs, to supporting the student body with campuswide events. They are truly bringing the community together,” said Aliyah Adan Khan, ’26, an applied mathematics and applied psychology major who serves as president and founder of the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), and as secretary of the Supporting Women in Computing Club (SWiC).
How was OSA able to handle such growth? They leaned into their student programming assistants (SPAs), who coordinate events with vendors, handle setup and cleanup, and ensure a smooth event execution.
“This role has been invaluable in preparing me for my future as a program manager, teaching me how to manage multiple tasks simultaneously, work effectively within a team, and meet critical deadlines,” said SPA Kellie Wylie, ’25, a mechanical engineering technology major. “It has deepened my passion for higher education, giving me insight into the structure and operations of a college.”
Each May, OSA hosts RamChella, a high-energy festival featuring carnival rides, food trucks, and top-tier musical acts like Swae Lee, Metro Boomin, Two Friends, Daya, and most recently Quavo. Since its 2022 comeback after a two-year hiatus, attendance has more than doubled, with 2025 marking its largest crowd yet. With bigger artists and an electrifying atmosphere, RamChella continues to be the highlight of the year.
“Student activities are not just a break from academics, but represent the heartbeat of campus life, helping college students build leadership, community, and a sense of purpose beyond the classroom,” said Ron Jackson, EdD, vice president for student affairs at FSC. “Through involvement, students discover their voices, broaden their perspectives, and gain the confidence to shape the world around them.”
Miedreich credits his team for fostering campus partnerships as a key factor in the success of student engagement. “We have amazing support from administration and departments like Facilities, Event Management, University Police, and Marketing and Communications,” he said. “Our success in enhancing the student experience is truly a team effort.”
So, what’s next for OSA? They plan to review a recent assessment that was administered to the student body. The objective of the assessment was to look at what the office is producing as a whole—what their strengths are and where they can improve next year to better meet and address student needs. “We never want to be complacent. We also want to level up and see what we can do better next year,” said Miedreich. With the office continuing to “level up,” the campus community cannot wait to see what they have up their sleeves next.
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