Farmingdale State College Honors 2024 DEI Innovation Grant Recipients By Jaime Hurtado

FARMINGDALE, N.Y. — Farmingdale State College held a ceremony on Tuesday to recognize the recipients of the 2024 DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) Innovation Grant Program. The event, attended by students, faculty, and families, celebrated the hard work and dedication of students committed to fostering a more inclusive and diverse campus community.

The college awarded a total of $3 million in DEI scholarships to a group of outstanding students who have demonstrated leadership in promoting diversity and inclusivity at FSC.

The DEI Innovation Grant Program is designed to support students who actively contribute to making FSC a more inclusive, welcoming place for all individuals. The grant is part of the college’s broader initiative to promote diversity, equity, and inclusion in both academic and social spaces.

Dr. Kevin D. Jordan spoke during the ceremony, highlighting the significant impact the awardees have had in advancing DEI values at FSC. He opened the ceremony with a speech on DEI and the excellence he has seen within the school's community. He then called up each awardee and gave a small speech on each of their own personal achievements within the FSC community. 

Among the recipients was Jairo Orozco, a senior in the Class of 2025. "DEI means to me diversity, equity, and inclusive excellence. It's about including all of our students alike, no matter their race, gender, religion, or socioeconomic background," Orozco said. His commitment to making the campus environment more inclusive was praised by both faculty and peers.

Julia Seitz, a senior in the Class of 2024, was also among the recipients. "To me, DEI means including everyone and empowering all the different voices on our campus," Seitz said. "We live in such a diverse climate.” She also stated how making sure she continues on this path is crucial to her. “Highlighting all of those voices and constantly doing that in everything that I do, in and out of the classroom.”

For many students at Farmingdale, the DEI Innovation Grant Program is not just a financial award, but a symbol of their dedication to making a difference in their community.

As part of its ongoing commitment to diversity, Farmingdale encourages all students to get involved in DEI initiatives.

Those interested in learning more about opportunities to support the college’s diversity efforts are encouraged to visit the school’s DEI webpage. For more information about the DEI Innovation Grant Program and ways to get involved at Farmingdale, visit https://www.farmingdale.edu/equity-diversity/index.shtml.