SUNY Chancellor King Presents ESF's First Fall 2027 Acceptance Letter to Local High School Senior at State Fair

08/31/2026

SYRACUSE, N.Y., Aug. 31, 2026 — SUNY Chancellor John B. King Jr. presented the first acceptance letter to a member of the SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry's (ESF) fall 2027 class during a special event at the New York State Fair.

The acceptance letter was presented to Grace DiOrio, a rising senior at Cicero-North Syracuse High School, on Thursday, Aug. 27, at ESF's exhibit in the State Park at the Fair. The exhibit features 10 days of interactive STEM-focused activities that showcase environmental science, sustainability, and natural resource stewardship.

SUNY Chancellor John B. King Jr. said, “SUNY is an engine of upward mobility that opens doors to opportunities and impactful careers. At SUNY ESF, students receive a world-class education focused on understanding and solving some of society's most pressing environmental challenges. We are proud to welcome Grace to the SUNY family and look forward to seeing all she will accomplish as a SUNY ESF student and future leader in sustainability.”

DiOrio has been accepted into ESF's Bachelor of Science program in Environmental Science. Earlier this summer, she participated in a week-long program at ESF's Cranberry Lake Biological Station through BOCES, gaining hands-on experience in environmental research and field science.

“Grace's connection to ESF began this summer at our Cranberry Lake Biological Station, and we're thrilled to welcome her to the ESF community,” said ESF President Joanie Mahoney. “Grace’s curiosity, dedication, and passion for understanding the natural world exemplify the qualities we value in our students. We look forward to supporting her as she develops the knowledge and skills needed to address the environmental challenges of tomorrow.”

When asked why ESF, DiOrio said, “I see how much our ecosystem needs our help, and it's a big stressor for humanity right now. And it's really important to me. I love every single creature that we have; they're all so interesting in their unique ways that being able to help them means a lot to me or having that opportunity to help them in the future.”

The acceptance presentation highlights ESF's commitment to inspiring and preparing the next generation of environmental leaders. Through its annual presence at the New York State Fair, ESF engages thousands of visitors with educational exhibits, hands-on activities, and opportunities to explore careers and academic programs focused on sustainability and environmental stewardship.

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 conduct research on the main campus in Syracuse, N.Y., and on 25,000 acres of field stations representing a variety of ecosystems across New York State.

About the State University of New York

The State University of New York is the largest comprehensive system of higher education in the United States, and more than 95 percent of New Yorkers live within 30 miles of any one of SUNY's 64 colleges and universities. Across the system, SUNY has four academic health centers, five hospitals, four medical schools, two dental schools, a law school, the country's oldest school of maritime, the state's only college of optometry, 12 Educational Opportunity Centers, more than 30 ATTAIN digital literacy labs, and manages one U.S. Department of Energy National Laboratory. SUNY serves approximately 1.7 million students through credit- and non-credit-bearing courses and programs, continuing education, and community outreach initiatives. There are more than three million SUNY alumni worldwide, and one in three New Yorkers who earn a college degree is a SUNY alum. To learn more, visit suny.edu.