If They Had This Event Every Month, I'd Come Back!

ESF alumni, faculty, students and their families gather for an early autumn celebration
10/6/2009

The 2009 Alumni and Family Fall Barbeque showcased pride and tradition at ESF as members of the campus community gathered for a daylong series of events Oct. 3. Dark skies and rain gave way to bright blue sky as a warm autumn day left participants smiling.

The events began with a breakfast in Alumni Lounge, allowing alumni and current faculty members to mingle and catch up on the events taking place on campus.

Instructor Dawnelle Jager of the ESF Writing Program and alumna Peg Coleman BS '79, who now works as a microbial risk assessor, were both excited about the day's events. "I am always impressed with all of the different events at ESF and how they try to incorporate faculty, students and alumni into their agenda," Jager said. Coleman was thrilled to have the opportunity to come back and witness the changes on campus. "It is great to come back to ESF and see not only that this campus but that SU is also promoting newer and 'greener' technologies," she said.

After coffee with Dr. Cynthia Sedgwick, dean of student life and experiential learning, participants were offered a multitude of options, including faculty presentations on particular fields of study offered by ESF, student-guided tours of campus buildings and facilities, and a tour with Dr. Donald Leopold, chair of the Department of Environmental and Forest Biology, who helped identify and explain interesting plants throughout the campus and within Oakwood Cemetery. Leopold was also later involved in a tour of the College's campus at Heiberg Forest in Tully.

One of the biggest crowds was drawn by the Woodsmen's Team demonstration. Here, both male and female students showed the crowd many of the events that occur during a woodsmen's meet. Dave Andrews EFB '12, a woodsman himself, enjoys being a member of this team and is enthusiastic about its endeavors this year.

"We have a real chance at being the top team as we have a lot of hard working and talented members. However, the most important part of this experience is to just go out and have fun," he said.

Gerry Reymore BS '82, a former woodsman, was happy to see the woodsmen in action. "It is wonderful that ESF is such a very tight-knit community," he said. "It is so nice to see the tradition of the Woodsmen Team continue; if they had this event once a month I'd come back!"

-By Patrick Francis Carroll