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Student Speaker

 

Jenelle Grigelevich
Chautauqua (Shaw-Tah-Qu-Ah), New York
Conservation Biology with a Recreation Resources and Protected Areas Management Minor

Over the past four years, Jenelle has found her place at ESF. She is well-known on campus as a three-year orientation leader and president of the Herpetology Club, a position for which she received the 2024 President of the Year SOLAR award. Jenelle is a SUNY Chancellor’s Award nominee. She was recognized as an ESF career champion, an honor earned by serving as a student peer advisor, teaching assistant, and helping her peers find their way into the workforce through programs such as professional mixers. She enjoyed being a catcher on the Syracuse University’s Club softball team for four years.

While at ESF, she worked with many environmental state agencies including the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, New York State Parks, and New York State’s FORCES program.

After graduation, she plans to move to Portland, Maine, where she will work in forest pathology and plant healthcare for a local forestry company. She will forever be grateful for what ESF has given her and is excited to share more about her experiences and the wonderful community at ESF during commencement.

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Class Marshals

 

Natalie Bianchi
Liverpool, N.Y.
Natural Resources Management with a Food Studies Minor

Natalie Bianchi is a meticulous student and involved community member. She is a member of the ESF Honors Program, completing thesis work on agroforestry vineyard systems. She is also a member of ESF’s honor society, Alpha Xi Sigma, and a recipient of the Presidential Scholarship. Bianchi’s academic achievements have earned her a place on the President’s List for several semesters. She has prioritized serving the greater Syracuse community. She has been the volunteer coordinator at the Hendricks Chapel Food Pantry for two years, working to fight food insecurity in the college community. She enjoys annual involvement as a vegan coach with the Syracuse Vegan Living Program. Last summer, Bianchi served as a seasonal Park Ranger at Green Lakes State Park and was offered continued employment at the park throughout her senior year. After graduation, Natalie will be relocating to Saratoga Springs to work as an Environmental Planner for P.W. Grosser Consulting!

 

Victoria ‘Vic’ Poverin
Brooklyn, N.Y.
Environmental Studies with an Environmental Writing and Rhetoric Minor

Vic Poverin has demonstrated exceptional leadership and commitment throughout their academic career. As the treasurer of the Yoga Club, they managed funds and guided meditations, helping foster a nurturing environment on campus for peers seeking wellness. Poverin’s dedication to making a difference began early, exemplified by their achievement of raising over $5,000 for the organization 99 Elephants at 13 years old. Recognized as a National Honors Society and Social Awareness Club Leadership Award recipient, Poverin continued their academic excellence, earning a spot on the Dean’s and President’s lists in high school and at ESF. Their dedication to social issues is evident through their role on the Climate Resilience Education Task Force as a founding member of the Youth Steering Committee, committed to providing New York high school students with the tools to advocate for their own climate education. With a strong foundation in community engagement and a continued passion for positive change, Poverin looks forward to pursuing impactful and creative projects post-graduation, continuing their journey as a dedicated advocate for social and environmental causes.

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SUNY Chancellor’s Award for Student Excellence Recipients

This award is the highest honor bestowed upon students by the State University of New York.

 

Eden Gardner
Forest Hills, New York
Environmental Studies with an Economics Minor

Eden is the president of the Mighty Oak Student Assembly, serves as the SUNY Student Assembly Director of Sustainability, founded and serves as president of the ESF Pre-Law Society, and served as the chair of Community Engagement for the SU Student Association. Eden works as a student project coordinator in the Office of Sustainability and sits on the SUNY Sustainability Advisory Council. In these roles, he has helped develop ESF’s and SUNY’s Sustainability and Climate Action Plans and advocate for sustainability around the state. Upon graduation, Eden plans to work in the sustainability field before becoming an environmental lawyer.

 

Abhinaya Polaka
Proddatur, Kadapa, Andhra Pradesh, India
Honors in Environmental Science with a Concentration in Renewable Energy and an Environmental Policy and Communications Minor
December 2024 Graduate

Abhi's advocacy for the environment is evident. As an ESF student, Abhi excelled in all facets. Abhi is described as “a powerhouse academic, student-leader, environmental steward, and an all-around great person…who embodies the ESF spirit. She is a hard worker, a proponent of sustainability and the environment … her viewpoint as an international woman of color in STEM is unique and needed. She has been an integral part of ensuring that other international students have what they need to thrive here.” A faculty member noted, “As an international student, Abhi has flourished at ESF.”

 

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Norman R. McConney Jr. Award Recipient

Ladanijirah Lightner 
Brooklyn, N.Y. 
Environmental Studies; Policy, Planning, and Law

Ladanijirah Lightner  is a dedicated and driven student with a passion for sustainable development, climate justice, and public policy. Through hands-on internships and research experiences with organizations such as the Empire State Development Agency, CICOES, and the University of Vermont, Ladanijirah has cultivated a strong foundation in data analysis, technical communication, and interdisciplinary research. They have presented findings at multiple symposiums and are working on a research paper exploring low-emission energy scenarios through a climate-justice lens. On campus, Ladanijirah has engaged in leadership and community-building through roles as a teaching assistant, summer mentor, and orientation leader. As the president of the Black Student Union, they contribute to fostering an inclusive and supportive environment for students at ESF. Ladanijirah is committed to leveraging their academic and experiential background to address pressing environmental and social challenges through impactful, equity-centered work beyond graduation.

 

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Coordinator of Graduation Activites

Tim Phelps
Clifton Park, N.Y.
Paper Engineering with a Sustainable Construction Minor

Tim Phelps has been involved with several on-campus organizations at ESF, including the Bob Marshall Club, Mighty Oaks Student Assembly, and Solar Decathlon. In these organizations, Tim has served the campus community in numerous ways, including weekly runs with the Food Recovery Network to reduce food waste and working with Sleep in Heavenly Peace to provide beds to underprivileged youth. Tim has also been an active participant in the Honors Program, coordinating activities to facilitate undergraduate research opportunities and provide support for Honors students. He has consistently made the President's and Dean's lists for his academic excellence. He looks forward to working at the Carrier Corporation in Research and Development this summer.

 

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Department Scholars

 

Chemical Engineering

Jackson Ford 
Morrisville, N.Y.
Paper Engineering with a Management Minor

Jackson has been actively involved in the Sustainable Chemical Engineering (SUSChemE) and American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AIChE) student chapters. At ESF, he has earned several scholarships, including the JP Clark Memorial Scholarship, the Decandia Memorial Scholarship, and the Sandy Nyman Memorial Scholarship. Last summer, Jackson completed an internship at Sylvamo’s paper mill in Ticonderoga, N.Y., and plans to join the company full-time after graduation. He is grateful for the opportunities and supportive community that ESF has provided throughout his academic journey.

 

Chemistry

Esteban Joel Adorno Aguila
Orchard Park, N.Y.
Biochemistry

With a passion for bettering lives and curiosity in science, Esteban has been preparing to attend medical school for four years. During this time, he has received numerous academic awards and been on the Presidents 4.00 list since his sophomore year. His commitment extends beyond the classroom; he has become certified as a first aid responder, gathered hundreds of hours in community service, research, and shadowing, including physicians and surgeons in New York and Puerto Rico. Esteban’s hard work has paid off as he has been accepted by Jacobs School of Medicine and Upstate Medical University where he plans to continue his journey towards his dream of becoming a cardiothoracic surgeon. He plans on slowing down and taking one last summer break where you’ll find him volunteering in the emergency department at the Upstate Medical University Hospital or down by the lake fishing.

 

Environmental Biology

Lee Auringer
Parish, N.Y.
Conservation Biology

Lee has been actively involved in multiple clubs, primarily Herpetology Club as vice president, and Alpha Xi Sigma as volunteer coordinator. They are passionate about ecological restoration, botany, herpetology, and invertebrate zoology. As such, their professional experience includes invasive species work and conservation of the Chittenango Ovate Amber Snail. After graduation Lee is attending Cornell University to pursue a Master of Landscape Architecture degree.

 

Environmental Resources Engineering

Karrigan Ellison
Campbell, N.Y.
Environmental Resources Engineering, Mathematics

Karrigan was involved in the ERE Club and New York Water Environment Association (NYWEA) throughout her time at ESF. During her senior year she served as treasurer for both clubs. She enjoyed going on ERE Club trips to Camp Talooli and Newcomb and attending conferences in New York City and New Orleans with NYWEA. She had the opportunity to travel to Panama and Cuba for study abroad trips. Karrigan worked several internships throughout her academic career including the Center for Sustainable Materials Management, GHD, and most recently for the USDA-NRCS. After graduation, Karrigan will attend Cornell University to get her master’s degree in biological and environmental engineering, and then hopes to work in the field of agricultural engineering.

 

Environmental Science

Harshdeep Singh Banga
Syracuse, N.Y.
Environmental Health

Harshdeep was actively involved in student organizations while at ESF, including the South Asian Student Association, Desi Performance, and ESF Desi. He earned a spot on the President’s List every semester and was honored with the Rising Tutor of the Year Award in 2023. His passion for public health and medicine led him to intern with the Onondaga County Department of Health in 2022 and complete a SURF research internship at Upstate Medical University (UMU) in 2024. He is conducting stem cell research at UMU, contributing to efforts focused on improving therapies for diabetes. In addition to his academic and research pursuits, Harshdeep is dedicated to community service and volunteers at his local Gurdwara. He will attend UMU this July to begin medical school, with plans to pursue a career in surgery.

 

Environmental Studies

Ivy Ven Roy
Muskego, Wisconsin.
Environmental Studies with a Concentration in Natural Systems Applications and an Environmental Writing and Rhetoric Minor

During her time at ESF, Ivy was the outreach and engagement coordinator for Oakie’s Green Team, a Writing Center tutor, and an ecology and statistics tutor. She also held two Undergraduate Research Assistant positions in the Department of Environmental Studies and interned for the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation as a data analyst. During her freshman year, Ivy participated in the New York State Sustainable Materials Management Stewardship program run by the Institute for Sustainability Engagement at Syracuse University, where she now works as a project assistant and co-manages that same program. She simultaneously maintains an Undergraduate Research Assistant position at ESF. After graduating, Ivy is excited to continue educating others on sustainability, environmental science, and cat facts wherever her path takes her.

 

Landscape Architecture

Cecilia Zajac
Buffalo, N.Y.
Landscape Architecture

Cecilia Zajac is a non-traditional student with a background in small-scale and urban agriculture. Throughout her time at ESF, she has worked as a barista and as an intern at a local landscape architecture firm. She has also volunteered with Deaf New Americans Advocacy, Inc., assisting in the design development of Asha Laaya Farm. Her academic work includes a design thesis conducted in Kathmandu, Nepal that explores the phenomenon of public space agency. This experience deepened Cecilia’s passion for community and individual empowerment through informal use of public space. She plans to pursue a graduate degree in urban and regional planning and further develop research on informal urbanism. She has a particular interest in advocating for informal settlement dwellers through community-driven, policy-informed, and design-based methods. The support of Cecilia’s fellow landscape architecture students and her cat, Noodle, have contributed to her success at ESF.

 

Open Academy

Jennifer M. Harvey
Houston, Texas
Sustainability Management

Jennifer is a mother of three daughters — one in high school and two in college. While attending ESF full-time, she also worked full-time in regulatory compliance within the oil and gas industry. Her short-term postgraduation goal is to attend graduate school. Long-term, she plans to promote the circular economy within households and contribute to the public’s increased knowledge and support of renewable energy sources, such as solar, wind, geothermal, and nuclear power.

Jennifer is a member of Alpha Xi Sigma and participates in the Honors Program. As an avid state and national park visitor, she devoted her honors thesis paper to understanding the motivations and constraints of millennials and adult post-millennials visiting Texas state parks — an important endeavor as young adults are needed to safeguard America’s natural and historical treasures for future generations.

 

Sustainable Resources Management

Kaisa Mackey
Ithaca, N.Y.
Forest Ecosystem Science

Kaisa graduated as the program scholar with an A.A.S. in Forest Technology from ESF’s Ranger School in 2023. She has been a member of the Timber Sports team since her freshman year and was the team president this past year. Kaisa spent last summer gaining experience in forestry working for ESF Adirondack Forest Properties. After graduation, Kaisa is looking forward to leaving the city and heading to northern Vermont for a forestry internship.