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Kirk Kordeleski Receives degree from President W. Hubert Keen at 2012 Commencement

(Bethpage, NY) – Kirk Kordeleski, president and CEO of Bethpage Federal Credit Union and a resident of Sea Cliff, NY delivered the keynote address to 1,640 graduates of Farmingdale State College, a campus of the State University of New York, and an audience of family and friends, faculty and honorees at the 93rd Annual Spring Commencement ceremonies, Saturday May 12.  He was also the recipient of an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters (L.H.D.) conferred by the SUNY Board of Trustees.

In presenting the degree, Farmingdale State College President W. Hubert Keen stated: “The honorary doctorate degree is the highest form of recognition offered by the State University to persons of exceptional distinction, and that describes Kirk Kordeleski.  For thirty years, he has demonstrated integrity and excellence in leadership and a strong dedication to our community.  To state that he is deserving may be obvious from his profile, but knowing the man as I do, being the one to bestow the recognition is my honor.”

Kordeleski, who established his career in credit unions, has been CEO of Bethpage Federal Credit Union for ten years and during this decade, the credit union has grown to become a leading community service financial institution with 200,000 members and assets over $4.5 billion.  Bethpage is known for its generous support of education, families and the arts, and equally, for a dedicated, hands-on approach led by Kordeleski’s example.   He serves as Chair of the Board of Directors of the Long Island Association – the region’s leading organization of business members — and of Project Grad — the national organization supporting public education for economically disadvantaged children in targeted school districts.  He also serves on the boards of the Long Island Arts Alliance, the Long Island Regional Economic Development Council and has served on the board of the Farmingdale State College Foundation.

“I thank the SUNY Board of Trustees and President Keen for this honorary degree and for the opportunity to be here today to celebrate with the 2012 Farmingdale graduates and guests,” said Kordeleski.  “I am fortunate that my personal passions are fueled by the engagement between business and community which is the essence of Bethpage Federal Credit Union as a financial cooperative that exists solely to serve its members.  It is my hope that today’s graduates find the same satisfaction in the intersection of their professional and personal interests.”

Bethpage Federal Credit Union is a not-for-profit financial cooperative, existing solely to serve its members and has experienced rapid growth in recent years to become a strong alternative to banks.  Bethpage was approved for the largest federal community charter in the U.S. in 2003 and now is Long Island’s largest credit union and leading community financial institution with over 200,000 members, 26 branches and 60 shared service center locations throughout Nassau and Suffolk Counties.   As a financial cooperative, Bethpage offers better rates, lower fees and a full menu of personal and commercial financial services.

Bethpage maintains branch locations in Bay Shore, Bay Shore King Kullen, Bethpage, Central Islip, Commack King Kullen, Elmont, Farmingdale, Freeport, Glen Cove, Hempstead, Huntington, Levittown King Kullen, Lynbrook, Massapequa, Melville, Mineola, North Babylon, Patchogue, Port Jefferson, Riverhead, Seaford, Smithtown, Roosevelt, West Babylon and Westbury with over 350 surcharge-free ATMs in King Kullen, 7-Eleven, Walgreens and Costco locations throughout Long Island.  For more information, call 1-800-628-7070 or visit www.bethpagefcu.com.