The forest is more than just a landscape for senior Ben Jacquet—it’s a part of his family’s history. The roots of a legacy that began long before he was born. With his recent commitment to Paul Smith’s College in New York, Ben is ready to carry that legacy forward, forging his own path in fores
Ben’s story begins in Vermont, where he spent his early childhood surrounded by nature. His grandfather, a seasoned forester, had started his career in Africa before settling in Vermont. Alongside Ben’s father, the two ran a family-owned business. However, as the business eventually faded, the family relocated to Pennsylvania in 2011 when Ben’s father accepted a job offer at a lumber company—a position that better fit their changing circumstances. His grandfather retired, but their connection to the woods remained strong.“Forestry has been in our family for a long time. It’s really cool—we have a lot of backbone in it,” Ben reflects.
Despite his family’s deep roots in forestry, Ben never imagined he would follow the same path. With a natural talent for craftsmanship, he chose to study masonry at Eastern Westmoreland Career and Technology Center (EWCTC), where he’s now in his third year. His plan was simple: build a career in masonry, perhaps working on his own or for a local business. Forestry wasn’t part of the picture—until it suddenly was.“I never really planned on studying forestry, but it was an opportunity that popped up for me,” Ben admits.
That opportunity came in the form of a $22,000 merit scholarship from Paul Smith’s College. The offer was life-changing. Initially considering a two-year program, Ben realized that with the scholarship, he could commit to a full four-year degree. “It’s really a miracle. I’m in shock that I got that scholarship,” he says. “It helped change my decision from a two-year to a four-year degree just because of how much it helped with the cost.” But it wasn’t just the financial support that swayed him. The stories his father shared about working side by side with his grandfather in the woods sparked something deeper in Ben—a desire to be part of that legacy. “Hearing the stories my dad told me of him and his father working together really motivated me to want to carve the third-generation path and continue on the legacy and knowledge they have,” he says.
Though inspired by his family, Ben plans to make his own mark. Rather than joining his father at the lumber company, he dreams of starting his own business—one that blends forest management with concrete and masonry work, offering services that reflect both his heritage and his personal skills. “I originally did and still do plan on using masonry, even to accompany and add into the forestry aspect with concrete and masonry work,” he explains.
For Ben, choosing forestry isn’t about following in anyone’s footsteps—it’s about walking alongside them. It’s about respect—for the forests his grandfather once worked in, for the knowledge his father passed down, and for the generations of hard work that shaped his family. “I want to keep doing what they have started instead of going my own way into masonry. It’s really just respect for seeing what my father and grandfather have done and built together,” he says.
As he looks ahead to his future at Paul Smith’s College, Ben Jacquet knows he’s embarking on a path that honors his family’s history while carving out his own place in it—one tree, one stone, and one legacy at a time.
