By GREGORY ZELLER //
Farmingdale State College has put the largest individual donation in its history to good use.
The college has ceremoniously cut the ribbon on the Murray Pasternak ’60 Lab for Radio Frequency and Microwave Technology, leveraging a $1.4 million donation by the Class of 1960 alumnus.
Pasternak, founder of California-based RF/microwave technology innovator Pasternack Enterprises, made the record-setting gift in early 2022, marking his third substantial donation to his alma mater. The benefactor previously notched two $500,000 donations in support of Farmingdale State’s engineering scholarship program.
This time, the generous graduate has funded a well-stocked science lab designed to train students on vector network analyzers, RF signal generators, mixed-dominion oscilloscopes and more next-generation radio frequency and microwave technologies.
By giving engineering students hands-on experience with the cutting-edge components powering modern radio, TV, radar, GPS and cellular tech, the Pasternak Lab “expand(s) a program that addresses the needs of today’s high-technology firms on Long Island and beyond,” according to Farmingdale State College President John Nader.
Low-tech: At least, the April 20 ribbon-cutting was — but Farmingdale State’s Pasternak Lab rides the cutting edge of microwave and RF tech.
“[Pasternak’s] commitment to creating opportunities for our students is inspiring,” Nader said Tuesday. “We are grateful for his generosity.”
The inspirational industrialist – who graduated from Farmingdale State’s Electrical Technology program, before it became the Electrical Engineering program – launched his industry-leading RF/microwave components compendium way back in 1972.
Today, with a company inventory exceeding 40,000 products (everything from adapters, amplifiers and antennas to phase shifters, surge protectors and waveguide assemblies), Pasternak Enterprises services customers in 35 countries via partnerships with 19 international distributors.
Many of those state-of-the-art systems will be in play in the Pasternak Lab, pushing Farmingdale State’s School of Engineering Technology to the front of the RF/microwave educational class.
Mixing it up: Students will get hands-on experience with mixed-domain oscilloscopes and other cutting-edge gear in the Pasternak Lab.
In a statement, Pasternak said he funded his alma mater’s engineering program and his namesake laboratory to “reverse the trend” of declining numbers of engineering students.
“The need for wireless (services) is growing at a time when the number of engineers is decreasing,” the engineer/philanthropist noted. “It was important to me that we build a lab where we can train the next generation in this technology.”
Like any smart businessman, it was also important to Pasternak to protect both his industry and his personal investments.
“One of the companies I’ve invested in is just down the street from Farmingdale (State), and we need excellent engineers to succeed,” he added. “So, this is a good arrangement for everyone – Farmingdale educates them in my lab, then we can hire them on after graduation.”
