There was food, drinks, singing, dancing and inspiring words shared on the campus quad at Lehman College on Wednesday, June 12, as VIPs and faculty gathered for the school’s fourth annual Spring Fling fundraiser.
“Tonight, we’re raising money so that we can afford the student body better experiences, better opportunity and we’re so happy that there’s such a large turnout,” Ruben Diaz Jr. told the Bronx Times. The former Bronx Borough President, Ruben Diaz Jr. Lehman alumnus is on the board of trustees for the Lehman College Foundation, whose funds go towards scholarships, faculty support and other educational needs.
Ruben Diaz Sr. was also in attendance supporting his son and his alma matter. The former City Council member, famously known for donning his signature cowboy hat, graduated from Lehman in 1976 with a bachelor’s in psychology, “when the school only had four buildings,” he said. Diaz Sr. recently had a brick laid in his honor on the Lehman campus walkway. There are now more than a dozen buildings, including a state-of-the-art science lab which opened in 2013 and a recent renovation to their decades-old performing arts center which hosts famous acts from across the globe.
“I would travel here taking the D train at Lehman College where I found my calling as a young college student,” Attorney General Letitia James said to the crowd. “I once was here on this campus as someone who was nothing more than a child of parents who were once on public assistance, but I stand before you now as someone who could overcome all of the past.”
In addition to the speakers and silent auction, this year’s Spring Fling hosted the school’s first-ever, “Lehman’s Got Talent” event – a showcase of performances by exceptional Lehman students.
The Caribbean Unity Club, formed of members from India, Guayana the Dominican Republic and other nations, merged South American and Indian dances with contemporary American music. Bryan Facundo had people cheering and on their feet with his rap performance. The finance major and Lehman freshman said the song has no title, but the lyrics and theme revolved around the Spring Fling.
Mary Morfe read her Spanish/English poem, “Desafíos y Éxitos en Lehman/Challenges and Successes in Lehman.” She graduated with a master’s in organizational leadership, is an alumni adviser and wears many hats in supporting the school and her community. The ode to the Bronx CUNY school spoke to the student experience, including the Campus Life building which houses the school’s clubs, radio station and game room.
“Campus Life, a beacon bright/Guiding us through the darkest night/In Lehman’s embrace, we find our way/To triumph in the light of day,” reads an excerpt.
The night ended with smiles and hopefully, some extra dollars for the Lehman College Foundation.
“It was here where — brilliant and dedicated professors and other students and mentors expanded my horizons,” said Attorney General James. “Lehman represents the transformational power of education and if you believe that, you should make some noise.”
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