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ESF Rolls Out Green Carpet for The College Tour Premiere
College Celebrates Being the First SUNY Featured on Amazon Prime Series
SYRACUSE, N.Y. — Sept. 25, 2025 — The SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry (ESF) rolled out the green carpet to celebrate the premiere of its episode of The College Tour. Marking a major milestone for the campus and the SUNY system, ESF is the first SUNY institution to be featured on the nationally streamed Amazon Prime series, which reimagines the college search experience for students and families nationwide.
To celebrate, ESF hosted a release party Wednesday, Sept. 24, in Marshall Auditorium, complete with a green carpet entrance, photo ops, concessions, and a Q&A session with some of the students featured on the show. Students in attendance also shared what they think makes ESF a one-of-a-kind college.
"Our students dazzled, and we appreciated them telling their own stories about why ESF is unique. It has been an enriching experience,” said ESF President Joanie Mahoney. “The College Tour is a great tool to help us reach wider audiences who might not get to see, at least firsthand, how wonderful ESF is, and I applaud our students for being great Mighty Oak representatives."
For graduate student Emily Friden, who studies environmental chemistry and was featured in the episode, The College Tour gave her an opportunity to share what it’s like to be a student at ESF.
“I think graduate student life is a bit elusive, so to be able to share that with the community is really important,” Friden said.
The College Tour was created to help prospective students explore colleges from anywhere in the world. Creator and host Alex Boylan was inspired by his niece’s college search journey and designed the show to bring campuses directly to students and families who may not have the time or resources to visit in person.
Filmed over a week during the spring 2025 semester, the ESF episode features 10 students from diverse academic backgrounds, highlighting both undergraduate and graduate experiences. Each segment dives into a unique aspect of campus life—from cutting-edge research and sustainability initiatives to identity, community, and hands-on learning across ESF’s 25,000 acres of field sites.
“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,” said junior Daniel Vera, a sustainable energy management major.
The episode is available to stream on ESF’s website, with individual student segments also accessible for viewers who want to explore specific topics. With 15 weeks of planning and a week of on-campus filming, the final product offers a compelling portrait of ESF’s distinctive academic environment and tight-knit community.
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.