Corwin Family Gives $25K to Help Students Avoid Debt

August 7, 2018

(L-R) Art and Ann Corwin; Carol Budinoff; Pat Christiansen; President Nader

The Corwins are practically a one-family alumni association.

That’s because the Corwins – Art ’76, Pat ’64, and Carol ’71 – all attended FSC. Not only that, but Art’s wife, Ann, was a member of the Class of ’78. And his sister, Carol Budinoff, met her husband, Bruce ’71, at FSC. It’s a family affair, to be sure.

Now, the Corwins – through the Corwin Family Foundation, Inc. – are paying back for what they consider some of the best years of their lives, and which help set the tone right up until today. Their thanks comes in the form of a $25,000 scholarship to the Farmingdale College Foundation.

“We told President Nader this is a gift for students in need,” Art said. “Our overall goal is to help some students graduate that otherwise might not be able to. The Corwin family attended the school in part because it was within our means, and the Corwin family wishes to give that same opportunity to others.”

Pat Christiansen was the first Corwin to attend FSC, which at the time was known as the State University Agricultural and Technical Institute.

“My memories include watching the cows being milked and seeing the chickens and turkeys running around. Our grandfather (who worked in the FSC business office in the Fifties) would come by every Saturday morning carrying a basket containing milk and eggs, fresh from the College.

“My education at Farmingdale was affordable and invaluable, and in today’s world a solid education is more important than ever. Farmingdale State College provided that quality education when I attended, just as it does now. I am grateful that our family can help others achieve that which was given to us.”

“We represent first generation college students,” Arthur added.

Now the Corwins want to see students who are the first in their families to attend college succeed – beyond their wildest expectations – too.