The Colorado State University Society of American Foresters Alpha student chapter has received the 2023 Outstanding SAF Student Chapter Award from the Society of American Foresters. Students were awarded in October at the 2023 National Society of American Foresters convention in Sacramento, California.
A record-breaking attendance of over 25 students from the chapter attended the convention, where they engaged in networking, attended talks, and explored career opportunities in their field.
Recent forest and rangeland stewardship program graduate Sean McLennan was the SAF Alpha chapter historian who penned the winning nomination. The submission highlighted the chapter’s achievements in membership, service, and community involvement.
McLennan received the news of the chapter’s success from a faculty advisor, Wilfred Previant, while chopping wood for a chapter fundraiser.
“I was honored to have been able to document the club’s successes and was ecstatic after hearing the news,” McLennan said.
The student chapter secured the first-place position among student chapters nationwide. This is not the first time the Alpha chapter has been recognized; they previously earned first-place honors in 2014, 2015, and 2017, with multiple second-place finishes over the years.
Keys to SAF Alpha student chapter engagement
McLennan said the dedicated student leadership of the chapter is key to their success. The energy and inclusivity they fostered in the last year contributed to active engagement in the club and the record attendance at the convention.
“I think one of the main drivers for our success in this award was the work that we’ve been doing in diversity and outreach,” McLennan said.
In 2023, the student chapter established a diversity and outreach committee and chair, improving methods of welcoming new members, communication, and mentorship for newer students.
The group is advised by Department of Forest and Rangeland Stewardship faculty members Wilfred Previant, Srijana Baral, and instructor and research associate Bob Sturtevant.
“The Alpha Chapter has been extremely active in outreach events, fundraising, skills training, mentoring and building friendships,” Sturtevant commented.
Sturtevant, who was recently announced as the chair of the Colorado-Wyoming State SAF chapter, has worked closely with students for 30 years, providing forestry skills training, including land management at the CSU Mountain Campus. He has led students in hosting an annual day of experiential learning for Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts of America in Colorado.
While students are building skills, they are often raising funds for the club. A large portion of their fundraising comes from the sale of firewood obtained during forest management volunteer work. They also cut and transport trees to raise funds in an annual holiday tree sale.
The chapter successfully raised funds to cover transportation, hotel, and convention fees for the SAF convention in October, ensuring accessibility for the large group.
Mentorship serves future leaders
Advisors play a crucial role in the chapter’s fundraising, growth opportunities, and decision-making.
“I feel like you can ask them any question. They will get you the answer because they care for you and want you to be successful,” McLennan said.
Students, including McLennan, also receive guidance from mentors in the natural resources field through a mentoring program with the professional Colorado-Wyoming SAF chapter. The Alpha chapter revived the mentoring program at the end of 2022 after challenges caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
McLennan’s mentor, Chris Dahl, supported him in applying for the U.S. Forest Service Pathways internship program and guided him through his hiring and career questions.
Like other students and recent graduates who successfully complete the program, McLennan gained an advantage in securing a competitive full-time position with the USFS.
“I want to emulate some of Chris’ traits, such as helping the younger generation get through a complex time in their life that comes with a lot of questions that need to be answered,” McLennan said. “It’s been amazing how he’s helped me get through this.”
The SAF Alpha student chapter pays it forward with its own mentoring program, connecting underclassmen with upperclassmen for advice on careers, schoolwork, and success strategies.
McLennan anticipates that the culture of innovation and support within the chapter will continue to benefit students joining the award-winning chapter and the local community it serves.
“I am confident that the next leadership cohort will maintain the momentum that this year’s chapter was able to achieve. I am excited and hopeful that the next generation of foresters will continue to invest in their community and provide opportunities for students.”
