Accolades and Professional News

1950s  |  1960s  |  1970s  |  1980s  |  1990s  |  2000s  |  2010s

1953

James Smith (FRM) writes, “I published a short memoir available from Amazon. Some recollections of Cranberry Lake, the summer of 1949 on the Clearwater National Forest and a brief section on the Francis Marion National Forest in 1953. I would love to hear from friends and classmates.”

1958

At its recent annual meeting, the New England Society of American Foresters presented a special chair to Ralph D. Nyland (FOR) in recognition of his contributions to silviculture. The group also presented the Ernest M. Gould Jr. Technology Transfer Award to Laura S. Kenefic ’95 (FRM) in recognition of her contributions to forest science and practice through her research and outreach efforts to forestry practitioners, students and landowners.

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1963

In November, Fred Gerty (FRM) received the Volunteer of the Year award from the Mohonk Preserve at its annual Volunteer Appreciation Dinner. Fred provides gardening and photography services to the Preserve, serves on the Stewardship Committee and helps with occasional forest management advice. He lives in Gardiner, New York, where he shares chores on their small horse farm with his spouse, Carol Ann.

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1973

Carl Eller (FEG) was named a 2018 Engineer of Distinction by the Rochester Engineering Society. Over his 40-year career in environmental and geotechnical engineering, he has focused on projects that improve communities and the environment. Carl is a senior project manager at Cornerstone Environmental Group.

Gerald A. Kostyk, PLS, (RS) has retired from BCA Architects and Engineers where he served as a principal and vice president of land surveying. His long and productive career as a surveyor spanned projects ranging from boundary surveys to housing developments to bridges and educational facilities throughout New York state. Gerry plans to maintain his land surveyor’s registration in order to maintain his long-time membership in the New York State Association of Professional Land Surveyors, which is linked to the Black River Valley Association of Professional Land Surveyors of which he is a charter member and past president.

1975

Kevin Kehoe (FEG) is working as the president of the Alaska Wild Sheep Foundation, a 501c3 focused on providing funds for the management and enhancement of Dall sheep in Alaska.

1979

Barry LeClair (FRM), a high school science teacher for Pinellas County (Florida) Public Schools’ Educational Alternative Services’ Graduation Enhancement Program (aka Dropout Prevention) earned a scholarship from code.org to attend a weeklong program this summer to learn to teach computer science principles. The state of Florida passed legislation allowing a computer science course to substitute for one of two math courses required to graduate from high school, besides the mandatory Algebra 1 and Geometry courses. Barry has earned Best and Brightest Scholarship bonuses for being rated a “highly effective” teacher since becoming a Florida Certified Professional Educator in 2009. Barry has also been an International Society of Arboriculture Certified Arborist since 2005.

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1982

Daniel Robison (FRM) has been named the dean of the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences at Iowa State University.

1983

Kathleen A. Kelly (LA) is alive, well and happy to announce an exhibit of her recent paintings at the Pennsylvania Horticulture Society through Oct.  17, 2019. The gallery at 100 N. 20th St., Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, is open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. The exhibit is free and open to the public.

1984

Kenneth Soeder (ENSCI) has retired from his position as president of Jamestown Technologies and as a member of Azure Water Services. He is looking forward to enjoying more free time with his fiancée, Anne, in their new home in Mystic, Connecticut, as well as traveling more. Ken will serve as a senior technical advisor for Azure Water Services. He is happy to have the opportunity to continue to provide support to the company in his retirement.

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1992

Jackie (Record) Ferrier (ES) of the Willapa National Wildlife Refuge Complex in Washington has been named the 2019 Paul Kroegel National Wildlife Refuge System Refuge Manager of the Year. The award is presented by the National Wildlife Refuge Association in honor of Paul Kroegel, the first manager of the first national wildlife refuge. Jackie is the only female to receive the award in its 25-year history. She has been the project leader for the Willapa National Wildlife Refuge
Complex, which consists of three refuges: Willapa National Wildlife Refuge (NWR), Julia Butler Hansen Refuge for Columbian White-tailed Deer, and Lewis and Clark NWR, for almost eight years.

Scott LeRoy (ES) works as a health officer for Caroline County in Maryland where he has helped enact mobile treatment options for Eastern Shore residents giving them hope for recovery where they live.

1995

Timothy DePriest (EFB), a river habitat ecologist with DEC’s Division of Fish and Wildlife Resources, was honored as the Erie County Federation of Sportsmen’s Clubs’ Environmentalist of The Year for his habitat work in the Niagara River, including the restoration of Strawberry and Motor Islands, the Spicer Island habitat enhancement project, the recreation of Frog Island, a common tern project and construction of several fish attraction structures in the river.

1996

Rachel Mazur (EFB) is the author of a series of nature-based books for middle-grade readers called “The Nature Club.” Each book features one of the five kids in the club and tells the story of a challenge they face growing up in parallel to a story about an animal and a challenge it faces. In the end, the kids take simple actions to make a difference in their own lives and the lives of the animals they love. Kids who read these books will learn about birds, monarchs, bears, frogs and bobcats, as well as how to protect them.

1997

Jeffrey Rainforth (WPE), vice president of Phelps Construction Group, celebrated the completion of the Statue of Liberty Museum project on Liberty Island May 16, 2019. Phelps Construction Group acted as the construction manager for the 26-month project. The 26,000-square-foot building provides the estimated 4.3 million annual visitors the opportunity to learn about the Statue of Liberty’s history, influence and legacy through three gallery spaces and artifacts, including the statue’s original torch.

1998

Dave Hanny (ES) was promoted to an associate at Barton & Loguidice. He is a member of the firm’s Environmental Practice Area.

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2001

Frank Moses (ES) started a new position in Skaneateles, New York, as executive director of the Skaneateles Lake Association (SLA) in May. Frank will be supporting the protection and promotion of Skaneateles Lake through continued relationships with the Central New York and Finger Lakes community as well as government, conservation groups, local businesses, academic researchers and other stakeholders. The SLA focuses on initiatives to address harmful algal blooms, aquatic invasive species, reduction of nutrient loading and overall sustainable watershed management based on sound science. Frank is looking forward to tapping into his ESF education and past experiences in community engagement and conservation to help propel SLA’s mission.

2003

Caroline (Romano) Wheadon (FEG) received the Rochester Engineering Society’s Young Engineer of the Year Finalist Award for outstanding achievement and contributions to the profession. She was also profiled in the Rochester Business Journal November 2018 “Fast Start” feature for her leadership and successful project management as the hydropower business leader at LaBella Associates.   

2006

Breeanne (Neal) Agett (EFB) works as the epidemiology manager for the Chautauqua Department of Health. She discovered her passion for epidemics and pandemics while taking a microbiology class at ESF and went on to earn a graduate degree in public health from SUNY Albany. Her interest in public health is further fueled because it combines both social and hard sciences. Breeanne is one of the initiating members of the Purchase 21 county law that made the sale of tobacco and electronic cigarettes to persons under 21 illegal in Chautauqua County. A state version of the bill is included in the governor’s 2019 budget. Breeanne says that governmental change toward health is a difficult path but that the results are worth the effort.

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2013

Dr. Daniel Clark (FRM) started a position as an environmental services trainee at the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection in May 2019.

2015

Kathleen Martin (ES) was accepted to the master’s program for city and regional planning at Temple University.

2016

Matt Bethurem (ES) accepted a tenure-track faculty position in Environmental Science and Sustainability at Allegheny College in Meadville, Pennsylvania.

Wiesye Pelupessy (ES) has been admitted to the Ph.D. program in urban and regional planning at the University at Buffalo and will receive funding from the Government of Indonesia.

2017

Matthew Purdy (ENSCI) graduated from the University of Iowa College of Public Health in May 2019, earning an M.S. in occupational and environmental health. Matthew had a graduate fellowship and was trained through the Heartland Center for Occupational Safety and Health. He also received the Ralph Vernon Memorial Scholarship through the American Industrial Hygiene Foundation.

2018

Katie Oran (ES) will be attending Cornell University’s Master of City and Regional Planning program this fall. She will have a concentration in international studies in planning.

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