SUNY ESF Ranger School students in silviculture lab are playful while emphasizing social distancing as they lay out pin flags for a spring planting at an 8-by-8-foot spacing. (Photo provided)

WANAKENA — Fifty-three students at the SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry Ranger School graduated Friday.

The celebration of the Ranger School’s 106th commencement featured remote presentations from the college’s leadership, but the students were in full regalia and attended in person, albeit socially distanced.

“We believe these students may be one of the only graduating classes — if not the only graduating class in the country — to complete their coursework in residence this spring,” Interim President Dave Amberg said in a press release.

“ESF’s pedagogical model leans heavily toward experiential learning, and these students were not willing to give it up so close to the finish line, despite having the option. We gave the students the choice to either skip spring break and maintain residential learning or go to virtual instruction, and they unanimously decided to work through spring break, which of course required isolation. Our faculty have transitioned all of our other classes online, and I am proud of the transition, but the Ranger School students really paid tribute to our hands-on tradition. They have proven that they have grit, focus, a strong work ethic, discipline and a high level of responsibility.”

The ceremony was held in the school’s main classroom. Parents were invited to watch the ceremony online, which was hosted by the Ranger School Director Michael Bridgen. It featured brief remarks by the class president and valedictorian and, remotely, by Amberg, Interim Provost and Vice President of Academic Affairs David Newman, Department of Sustainable Natural Resources Chair Christopher Nowak, Bridgen and Alumni Association President Christi Barber, from the Class of 2010.

The average age of this year’s class is 19.9 years, the youngest since 1974. The class of 2020 includes 17 women, the largest percentage of female students ever recorded for a class. This class also had a large group of out-of-state students, including some from California and Florida.

The students are sitting for an associate degree in applied science.

“We offered the option of going virtual, and they all chose to stay,” said Bridgen. “They are a close group of students who have worked well together all year, but have really united behind this common problem. They are resilient and determined to have a Ranger School degree on their resumes. We expected a lot of them, and they have demonstrated their resolve.”

To ensure coursework was completed, spring break was canceled, students were in class for eight hours a day, and Saturday classes were added. To ensure the health and safety of all, students were restricted to campus, and they were required to hand over car keys. No one was allowed to enter or leave the grounds. Food and other deliveries were kept outside and retrieved by staff.

“We’ve built in some stress-relieving activities, too,” said Bridgen. “Students did some weekend camping, and we organized some hikes into the local mountains. We offered some movie nights, a Saturday night musical “shindig” sponsored by the faculty, and an Easter Day egg hunt. The student vehicle parade, allowing them to run their cars and trucks around campus, was very well received.”