Last fall, members of Farmingdale State College’s (FSC) campus community joined President Robert S. Prezant, PhD, for the 2025 President’s Gala, “a night to celebrate all that makes Farmingdale so extraordinary,” said President Prezant.
More than 275 FSC alumni, students, faculty, staff, and friends gathered for the elegant evening, which included dinner, dancing, a silent auction, and a fabulous variety of raffle prizes that raised nearly $200,000 to support scholarships and critical resources for FSC’s students.
HONORS AND AWARDS
A cherished part of the annual event, the gala also acknowledged five distinguished honorees for their positive impacts on the College and its community:
- The Ram’s Horn Award for Corporate Leadership: David Antar
- The President’s Award for Alumni Leadership: Kevin M. Spiegel, FACHE, ’76
- The President’s Award for Academic Leadership: Jeff Hung, PhD, ’97
- The President’s Award for Professional Leadership: Patricia Lind-Gonzalez
- The President’s Award for Student Leadership: Aliyah Adnan Khan, ’26
“We are proud to recognize these extraordinary people whose work and commitment have made a lasting difference for our students and our community,” said President Prezant.
“Farmingdale State College is a well-run organization with a very special place in my heart—not just because of its history or its growth, but because of the incredible people who make up this College,” said Antar, a visionary entrepreneur with over 36 years of experience in the security technology and educational technology industries. “The Ram’s Horn [award] represents strength and perseverance, values that I see reflected in FSC’s students, faculty, and everyone who works tirelessly to make this College what it is today. When we invest in each other and in our community, we all rise together.”
“It is a true honor to be recognized among such distinguished alumni and community leaders,” said Spiegel, chief executive officer of Florida Medical Center, who traveled with his wife, Chava, from Miami, Florida, for the special evening. Spiegel, who has held numerous clinical teaching positions and executive leadership roles in healthcare systems across the United States, shared warm recollections of the classes, student clubs, faculty members, and FSC memories that had “a positive impact on me and my quest in shaping my career goals.”
“It has been my great pleasure to have reported on the tremendous growth of the College and work alongside such talented and dedicated faculty and staff who truly care about the success of our students,” said Lind- Gonzalez, who as FSC’s chief officer for institutional research and effectiveness has “fostered a culture of transparency, accountability, and continuous growth,” said Senior Vice President and Provost Sean Lane, PhD.
It is a true honor to be recognized
among such distinguished alumni
and community leaders.
- Kevin M. Spiegel, FACHE, ’76,
Chief Executive Officer of Florida Medical Center
“During my time at Farmingdale, I have had great leaders, wonderful colleagues, and excellent corporate partners. Your ongoing support has helped us improve our programs, and your news about our students always brightens up my days. Thank you. For all of these reasons, I am not afraid of Mondays,” Hung, FSC alumnus and professor and chair of the Mechanical Engineering Technology Department, shared to applause.
“As a woman in STEM, FSC has blessed me with many opportunities which allowed me to complete both my degrees in the span of four years,” said Khan, a dualdegree senior in applied mathematics and applied psychology, who was recently named a Newman Civic Fellow. “Even though this award may have my name on it, it’s actually a collection of all the people who have gotten me to this point today and a reflection of everything I’ve learned at Farmingdale State College.”
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