Celebrated engineer and entrepreneur Murray Pasternack, Farmingdale State College (FSC) Class of 1960, recently pledged a record $5 million commitment to fund scholarships and programs in engineering technology at his alma mater, the largest technology college in the State University of New York (SUNY).
The gift, the greatest in FSC’s history and among SUNY technology colleges, will support a minimum of 56 students each year with four-year scholarships across all 15 majors in the School of Engineering Technology, in addition to student programming, mentorship, co-curricular resources, and experiences to attract, retain, and empower students who are less likely to pursue careers in computing, engineering, and technology.
The generous donation also aligns directly with New York State Governor Kathy Hochul’s workforce development agenda to educate and prepare students, including women in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM), to meet industry needs in fields like computing, electrical engineering, technology, renewable energy, and software engineering.
In recognition of this transformative gift, Pasternack’s ongoing support of the College and students, and his all-time giving to academic programming campuswide, FSC has named its engineering technology school in his honor, now known as The Murray Pasternack School of Engineering Technology.
“Mr. Pasternack has been a longtime friend of Farmingdale State College, a donor who continues to recognize the remarkable potential of our students and the impact they will have on the region,” said Robert S. Prezant, PhD, president of FSC. “This historic gift will support students who might otherwise have struggled to find essential resources and will be reflected in the important contributions our students will make in an array of engineering and technology fields.”
“As an educator and engineer, I’ve seen firsthand how talent can flourish when given the right support,” said Kenneth Lee, PhD, PE, dean of The Murray Pasternack School of Engineering Technology. “Mr. Pasternack’s remarkable gift isn’t just about scholarships; it’s about opening doors, changing lives, and showing our students that their dreams are worth investing in. His belief in our mission and the potential of every student in our program will resonate for generations.”
Pasternack, who founded Pasternack Enterprises as a radio frequency engineer, is, together with his wife, Judy, the largest individual donor to the College, both in total giving as well as making the single largest gift to FSC. In the last four years, they have donated a total of $8.2 million in personal philanthropy. Recent impacts of the Pasternacks’ generosity across campus include the student-managed investment fund and state-of-the-art trading room in the School of Business in 2024, the Radio Frequency and Microwave Technology Lab in Lupton Hall in 2023, and the launch of FSC’s Honors Program in 2022.
“I know firsthand the effects and the trade-offs of trying to earn a living and getting an education at the same time and greatly appreciate an education that leads to a productive future,” said Pasternack, who drew on his experience of working while earning his associate degree in electrical technology at FSC. “My hope is that this gift will allow engineering students the opportunity to concentrate more on their education and less on earning money to pay for it.”
Students can apply for the Murray Pasternack Scholarship in Engineering upon their acceptance into an engineering technology program at FSC. “This investment is so much more than an act of giving—it’s a tremendous statement of confidence in engineering at Farmingdale State College and represents Murray’s legacy that we will proudly steward,” said Matthew Colson, vice president for development and alumni engagement at FSC. “Our gratitude to Murray extends beyond the depth of his generosity; we are inspired by his commitment to his alma mater and by his desire to lift others up to reach their fullest potential.”
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