BKW alumnus continues to give back to her home district - Berne-Knox-Westerlo Central School District

Each year, students in our elementary and secondary schools get to engage with outside visitors looking to add to their current curriculum. That includes

BKW graduate and Environmental Conservation Officer Melissa Burgess from the New York State EnCon Police speaks with BKW students earlier this year. Erica Miller/ Capital Region BOCES

employment opportunities through career fairs, author visits (virtual or in-person), and former students who bring their expertise straight into the classroom. Meet 2006 BKW graduate and Environmental Conservation Officer Melissa Burgess from the New York State EnCon Police. Recently, she visited the Wildlife & Natural Resources classroom to highlight her work in law enforcement, share details of what she does on a day-to-day basis, and address the benefits of pursuing a career in law enforcement , and her role in protecting our natural habitats.

Today, we feature Ms. Burgess as part of our Alumni Series.

Originally from East Berne, Burgess spent several summers volunteering at Albany Medical Center with encouragement from her eighth-grade biology teacher Mrs. Durr. During her last year of high school, she gained employment in the landscaping industry and spent summers working on both residential and commercial properties.

While considering her next steps, she strongly considered attending Hudson

BKW graduate and Environmental Conservation Officer Melissa Burgess from the New York State EnCon Police participates in classroom discussions with BKW students. Erica Miller/ Capital Region BOCES

Valley Community College (HVCC) but eventually applied to The State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry (SUNY-ESF) due to her interest in the outdoors and hunting. She was eventually accepted into SUNY ESF and started as a Wildlife Biology major, switched to chemistry for three years, and ultimately switched back to Wildlife Biology. In 2011, she graduated with a BS in Wildlife Science.

After graduating from SUNY-ESF, Ms. Burgess eventually applied through the NYS Civil Service for employment opportunities with regional law enforcement agencies ranging from the New York State Police to the regional office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. It took nearly three years before she was eventually canvassed to begin the first steps to becoming a New York State EnCon Officer. She has been with the New York State EnCon Police since 2017.

We thank Officer Burgess for visiting our campus and sharing her approach to securing employment in the law enforcement field.