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Live from The College Tour – It’s ESF
ESF is first SUNY featured on Amazon Prime streaming TV show
SYRACUSE, N.Y. — July 21, 2025 —The SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry (ESF) will be featured on The College Tour, a television show streaming on Amazon Prime that takes a reimagines the college search. The episode premieres Thursday, July 17 on ESF’s website.
Hosted by The Amazing Race winner and producer Alex Boylan, the show originated from a real-life challenge Boylan recognized when his niece was preparing to visit colleges: few people have the time and resources to see the places they’re interested in. To remedy that, he created The College Tour which brings the colleges to prospective students.
At the close of the spring 2025 semester, the production team spent a week on ESF’s Syracuse campus, filming 10 students across a range of disciplines. The episode highlights both undergraduate and graduate experiences, with each segment focusing on a unique aspect of student life—from research and identity to hands-on learning.
“This was an uncommon opportunity from the beginning,” said President Joanie Mahoney. “There are so many things ESF does well. From the strength of our research to the value of experiential coursework across 25,000 acres of land, our students gain incredible experience that prepares them for meaningful jobs. It’s not always easy to package the breadth of what we do, and so the collaboration with The College Tour sheds a spotlight on all the experiences our students have. We look forward to sharing the episode with everyone.”
Emily Friden, a graduate student studying environmental chemistry and one of the students featured on The College Tour, said, “Being part of The College Tour was such a unique experience. It gave me the chance to reflect on the supportive community I’ve found here at ESF, both in and outside of the classroom. I enjoyed sharing what makes this place so special and hope others can see just how welcoming and connected our campus really is.”
Now in its 14th season, The College Tour has become a valuable tool for high school counselors and students alike. Viewers can watch all 10 student segments or the full 30-minute episode.
The production involved 15 weeks of planning, including weekly calls to coordinate casting, segment themes, and filming locations. The result is a portrait of ESF’s distinctive academic and student experience.
“Being a part of The College Tour was an incredible experience and a unique opportunity to represent ESF on a national platform,” said Daniel Vera, a junior in Sustainability Management. “When I first arrived at ESF, I never imagined I’d one day be one of the faces showcasing our campus—but that’s exactly what makes this community so special.”
Vera added, “ESF is a place where people from all kinds of backgrounds, interests, and niches can truly thrive. I hope this episode inspires prospective students to reimagine what’s possible for themselves in this new chapter of their lives. ESF gave me the space to grow, lead, and find a family—and I am sure it can do the same for everyone.”
You can watch the episode on ESF’s site, and view any one of the segments on their own.
About SUNY ESF
The SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry (ESF) is dedicated to the study of the environment, developing renewable technologies, and building a sustainable and resilient future through design, policy, and management of the environment and natural resources. Members of the College community share a passion for protecting the health of the planet and a deep commitment to the rigorous application of science to improve the way humans interact with the world. The College offers academic programs ranging from the associate of applied science to the Doctor of Philosophy. ESF students live, study and do research on the main campus in Syracuse, N.Y., and on 25,000 acres of field stations in a variety of ecosystems across the state.