The SUNY ESF mascot is named Oakie the Acorn. The acorn is a symbol of the college's commitment to the environment and sustainability. Oakie represents the strength and potential that can be found in even the smallest of things, just like an acorn can grow into a mighty oak tree. Oakie is often seen at sporting events and campus activities, cheering on the ESF community. The mascot serves as a reminder of the college's mission to educate and inspire future leaders in environmental science and forestry. Oakie brings a sense of fun and spirit to the campus, creating a sense of unity and pride among students, faculty, and alumni.
Oakie Moves on to Round 2 in SUNY’s Mascot Madness
SYRACUSE, N.Y. -- Oakie the Acorn, the mascot from the SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry (ESF), moves on to Round 2 in SUNY’s Mascot Madness competition, having defeated the University of Buffalo’s Victor E. Bull.
Oakie next takes on SUNY Canton’s Roody Roo in the social media-driven, NCAA bracket-style competition between SUNY campuses to name New York's favorite mascot. Round 2 voting begins at noon, Monday, March 20. Cast your vote here! Share the voting link with friends and family.
Oakie, the 2017 Mascot Madness champion, is one of 35 mascots who entered the annual competition.They are looking to return the Mascot Madness trophy to ESF in 2023!
The competition includes five rounds of voting and runs through April 6. People can vote for Oakie once every 12 hours. Oakie's fans are encouraged to cast ballots from all their email accounts but are limited to one vote per day. For a vote to count, people must verify it via an active email address.
The winning college takes home the traveling Mascot Madness trophy from SUNY. Last year, Oakie fell in the final round to SUNY Stony Brook’s Wolfie.
Oakie represents 12 men's and women's teams in ESF's athletics program, including national championship teams in women's and men's cross country and women's soccer. Follow all the action and show your support for Oakie using #SUNY #MascotMadness on social media.
Get to Know Oakie from their Mascot Madness profile!
Suny esf mascot
#28 SUNY ESF Mighty Oaks
Oakie
- Where are you from?
Delhi, NY - How many teams do you represent?
A total of 21, men’s and women’s combined. - How were you chosen to be school mascot?
Well, in horse years I’m 27, which makes me about 78 in human years. At this age, I really can’t remember that far back. - Do you have any friends that are mascots?
We mascots try to stay competitive with one another. I think some of the ESPN commercials illustrate that. But I believe I’m a distant cousin of Miles of the Denver Broncos. - What is your favorite campus event?
It wouldn’t be fair for me to choose just one sport. SUNY Delhi is celebrating 100 years, so I would have to say our centennial celebration. - What is your favorite food?
I have to confess. I’m a grazer. So I’ll eat almost anything. When I stick to my diet, I like a nice blend of oats, bran and barley. - What is your favorite television or movie animal?
Secretariat. I find his story to be very inspiring to all athletes, animal or otherwise. Perseverance always wins. - What do you like to do for fun?
When I kick up my hooves, you’ll find me reading the sports section…catching up on all the SUNY Delhi Bronco scores. - What’s it like to be a mascot?
That’s like asking Kim Kardashian what she thinks it’s like to be a Kardashian. It’s fantastic, of course! - What do you consider the ideal fan?
Anyone who is honestly passionate about the game.
- Where are you from?
My roots are in merry old England’s Sherwood Forest, where ESF’s Robin Hood Oak originated as a tiny acorn. But of course now I live in “the ‘Cuse!” - How many teams do you represent?
Eight men’s and women’s teams this year, but our “Mighty Oaks” sports program is growing real fast. You know how “Mighty Oaks from little acorns grow!” We’re gonna be huge before you know it. - How were you chosen to be school mascot?
You might say I fell into the job from an oak tree. Just kidding. Actually I beat out a bunch of other mascots in an online poll of ESF students. C’mon, it was me against an owl, a lumberjack and a bear. Who would you pick? I kicked their virtual butts. - Do you have any friends that are mascots?
My best mascot bro, Otto the Orange, lives right across the street at Syracuse University. We pal around at events like Freshman Orientation at the Carrier Dome welcoming all the new ESF and SU students. One time, we made a video to promote a campus ride-sharing program. I did the driving of course. Otto’s a great guy, but you don’t want to let him drive your car! He can also be a little annoying after he gets on ESPN all the time. I have to squeeze him and tell him to lighten up. - What is your favorite campus event?
That’s a tough one. I love Move-In Day – hanging out with the new students, meeting their parents, making sure everyone feels welcome and happy. Few things in life are as reassuring as a big acorn. But Earth Week – that’s a seven-day extravaganza in these parts! Student activities like barbecues, concerts, service projects, and making tie-dye tee shirts rock the place. - What is your favorite food?
I’m partial to nut-based foods: Nutella, Nutty Buddies, trail mix, and of course, Honey Nut Cheerios, because you can’t cheer on your team without a good breakfast. Anyone who’s visited my Facebook page knows I also like our snack bar’s Buffalo chicken sandwich. Good stuff. - What is your favorite television or movie animal?
I really love Scrat, the saber-toothed squirrel from the Ice Age movies. Man, there’s a guy that will do anything for an acorn! - What do you like to do for fun?
Treehugging tops my list. No one seems to know if I am a girl or a boy acorn because acorns are hermaphroditic, so sometimes I just feel more comfortable hugging trees. - What’s it like to be a mascot?
It’s so hot, it’s cool. No, really dude, the costume – it’s hot! But it’s also very cool to hang out with the teams, get the crowds pumped, meet people, wave to the paparazzi, and totally represent ESF. - What do you consider the ideal fan?
Anyone who’s loud, full of energy and willing to scream “Go Nuts!” for the entire game is oakey-dokey with me.
Not far from the tree: ESF bases new mascot on campus landmark, Otto the Orange
A Robin Hood Oak tree, a symbol on the campus of The State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry, has served as inspiration for the school’s new mascot – Oakie the acorn.
Faculty and students said they hope the mascot will increase school spirit, create a stronger sense of identity and even improve student relations with Syracuse University.
Oakie made its debut Friday at Bray Hall with more than 200 students and faculty present, said Robert French, vice president for enrollment management and marketing.
‘We were really happy with the student turnout,’ he said. ‘A lot of kids got their picture taken with Oakie, and that’s the kind of thing we were looking for.’
The idea to have a mascot came after ESF officially adopted the Mighty Oaks as the school’s athletic team name last summer. Both the mascot and name are part of the college’s athletic program expansion, he said.
The athletic teams have always competed as club sports, but this fall the college joined the National Intercollegiate Athletic Association. Students associate the expanded program with an increase in school pride.
‘Instead of feeling like the only sports team to root for is the Orange, we now have our own mascot and teams to root for,’ said Jeff Johnston, a sophomore environmental science major.
The team name was chosen by 800 students in an online poll. The Undergraduate Student Association (USA) and ESF administration worked together to come up with six choices, including The Lumberjacks and The Night Owls, French said.
The new team name has the potential to eliminate the school’s unofficial nickname, the Stumpies, a term that some embraced fondly and others regarded as an insult.
‘Personally, it wouldn’t bother me if it did,’ French said. ‘It has always been an unofficial term, and for some people, it doesn’t sound like a very positive term. I’m hoping Oakie is more popular.’
Members of USA chose an acorn because of its significance to ESF and the Robin Hood Oak on campus, a tree grown from an acorn from England’s Sherwood Forest, said Ryan Henry, director of athletics for USA.
Henry, a junior landscape architecture major, drafted a design for Oakie using ESF’s colors and SU’s mascot, Otto, for inspiration.
SU’s mascot played a large role in the creation of Oakie, he said. Both mascot costumes are made by the same company, and future Oakies will be trained by members of Otto’s Army, the group of students who play and support SU’s mascot. Henry said he also wants to see the friendly relationship between the mascots carry over to the students at both schools.
‘In the future, we want to separate ourselves from the shadow of SU, but at the same time create a better bond, inspired by Otto and Oakie working together,’ Henry said.
Henry has big plans for Oakie and hopes to use both mascots in a public service announcement about recycling, he said. He’s even thinking ahead about sponsorship deals for the mascots, he said.
‘The fruit and nut company is going to love it,’ he said. ‘We should get a trail mix company to sponsor us.’
ESF plans to use the mascot to increase school spirit by having Oakie make appearances at events, such as sporting events and student orientation, said French, the vice president for enrollment management and marketing.
While the mascot will help create a sense of identity for ESF that is separate from SU, French said the relationship will stay as strong as it has always been.
‘We have a great relationship with SU and it’s going to continue in the future, but ESF students are proud to be ESF students,’ he said. ‘They like to be able to root for their own teams, have their own mascot, their own colors and their own identity.’
Published on January 27, 2010 at 12:00 pm
Oakie brings a sense of fun and spirit to the campus, creating a sense of unity and pride among students, faculty, and alumni..
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Reviews for "Suny ESF's Mascot: Making a Difference in the Community"
1. John Doe - 1/5 - The SUNY ESF mascot is truly awful. It's a weird combination of different animals, and it looks more like something out of a horror movie than a friendly mascot. The design is confusing and lacks any clear representation of the school or its values. It's shocking that the university actually approved this mascot. I hope they reconsider and come up with something better.
2. Jane Smith - 2/5 - I understand that creating a unique, fun mascot can be a challenge, but the SUNY ESF mascot misses the mark completely. It's difficult to determine what kind of animal it's supposed to be, and the costume just looks cheap and poorly made. Additionally, the way the mascot interacts with the crowd during events is awkward and uncomfortable. Overall, the SUNY ESF mascot needs a complete redesign to be more enjoyable and representative of the school's spirit.
3. Mike Johnson - 1/5 - The SUNY ESF mascot is a complete disappointment. The design is bland and uninspiring, lacking any creativity or appeal. It fails to engage the crowd during events, and its movements are stiff and robotic. It's difficult to connect with such a lifeless mascot, and it adds nothing to the university experience. The school should invest in a new mascot that can bring some energy and excitement to its events.
4. Sarah Thompson - 2/5 - As a student at SUNY ESF, I have to say that the mascot is the least of the university's priorities. It's frankly forgettable and lacks any unique qualities that make it stand out. The costume design is plain and lacks charm. It's a missed opportunity to create a mascot that could truly represent the school's spirit and bring some enthusiasm to events. I hope the university takes the criticism into consideration and works on improving the mascot's design and performance.
5. David Carter - 1/5 - The SUNY ESF mascot is just embarrassing. It looks like it was thrown together without much thought, and the result is a poorly executed mess. The costume is unappealing and seems cheaply made. It's disheartening to see the lack of effort put into creating a mascot that could generate school pride and excitement. I hope the university reconsiders and starts fresh with a new design that is more visually appealing and representative of SUNY ESF's values.