CELEBRATING 60: Event commemorates history of Mat-Su College

PALMER — Talis Colberg took a trip down memory lane Thursday night, celebrating 60 years of Mat-Su College.

“Tonight you are sitting inside of an idea and we are thanking you for coming and helping us celebrate the 60th anniversary of this idea becoming a reality,” Colberg, Mat-Su College’s campus director, said during an event at the Glenn Massay Theatre Thursday night hosted to commemorate the school’s 60th anniversary.

Colberg, a known history buff, orchestrated a night of the school’s “history and song” with MSC faculty and the Mat-Su Community Chorus. The evening also featured special guest speakers, including Sen. Shelley Hughes and Sen. David Wilson. Throughout the presentation, Colberg cited numerous milestones across the community college’s history, from its birth just a year before statehood to the construction of the Glenn Massey Theater, which to Colberg and many others represents how far the little college that could has come.

Palmer Mayor Edna DeVries said that she used to teach accounting and bookkeeping at MSC from the mid 1970s to the 1980s. She was one of three mayors present that evening, along with Wasilla Mayor Bert Cottle and Mat-Su Borough mayor Vern Halter. DeVries instructed at MSC leading up to her political career. She remarked on the campus’ tremendous growth over the years, remembering a time before the new Trunk Road when students and faculty had to loop around from the Experiment Farm.

“Now, with the new Trunk Road, it’s perfect,” DeVries said.

Colberg noted that among the audience was a “historical figure in his own right,” Bill Tull the second MSC director from 1958 to 1959. He thanked him and many other notable names seen on campus and throughout the community that supported the MSC over the years. He asked Tull stand up for the audience to see. Tull stood up, smiled and waved as Colberg recalled several anecdotes, most cheeky and getting a laugh from the audience.

What once was a, “lonely building in the forest,” became a “public square,” not only for higher education but through the various community gatherings and events on campus, thanks to the newest addition in 2016, the Glenn Massay Theater, according to Colberg.

Colberg introduced guest speaker, UAA Chancellor Dr. Cathy Sandeen, with his signature history spanning, definition-stretching soliloquy that even Sandeen, was ready for. He said that Sandeen had spent 20 days on the job at that point.

“I received an odd message this afternoon,” Colberg began. “I did not know that accompanying her is another dignitary from the ‘big place’ in Anchorage, our own Provost, Dr. John Stalvey. The message I was left with is: ‘the provost is driving the chancellor out of her office.”

The audience burst into laughter and Colberg continued.

“And I thought surely that meant he’s driving her from Anchorage to the Mat-Su campus, not driving her out of office after only 20 days. But he is an ambitious man,” Colberg said.

More laugher and more history followed.

Sandeen came here directly from a Chancellor position at the University of Wisconsin system after overseeing a group of 13 small community campuses spread throughout the state, “some of them were very small, had 11 faculty and 400 students for example.”

“So I know the importance of community campuses. I have a soft spot in my heart for them and I want you to know that I really, really respect and honor what you’ve built here over 60 years. Mat-Su College started in some rented rooms with 10 classes, with people from the community, teaching them because education was considered to be a core part of community and that’s what you’ve built here. It’s come a long, long way,” Sandeen said.

Volunteering their time, the Mat-Su Community chorus sang started the first song of the MSC timeline, the Alaska Flag Song and performed various sets after each of segment in chronological order. The performances ranged from small duets (some including MSC past and current faculty) to the entire choir chanting big booming Broadway songs.

Milestones and music

1958:

MSC started at the Palmer Community College ran by the Palmer Independent School district, a time before the borough and before Alaska was a state. It was located where the Papa Murphy’s restaurant in Palmer is now. The college was technically a branch of the local school district, according to Colberg. Colberg elaborated on the history behind a slide depicting the very first MSC course, with just 10 courses.

Song: “At the Hop” written by Artie Singer, John Medora, and David White and originally released by Danny & the Juniors (released 1957).

1962 to 1964:

In 1962, MSC merged with the University of Alaska system. Colberg credited the third MSC college director, Al Okeson, and his wife, Gloria, for transition that took the campus from “no full-time employees and no space” to the permanent location with just a short hike or drive away from the historic UAF experiment farm and, “many employees and many, many times the students.”

“They were fundamental to what we became,” Colberg said.

In 1964, the Mat-Su Borough was formed and created boundaries. The Palmer Community College was renamed to conform to the boundaries as the Matanuska-Susitna Community College.

Song: “Both Sides Now” written and performed in 1968 by Judy Collins, and also covered by Joni Mitchell.

1972 to 1974:

In 1972, the first building on the current campus was constructed. In 1974, MSC hosted its first graduation, with two graduates. It was held on-site, according to Colberg.

“Three-hundred fifty students seemed like a big deal back then. Now, our campus attendance in the fall ranges between 1,500 to 2,000 students,” Colberg said.

Song: "You're the One That I Want" a song written by John Farrar for the 1978 film version of the musical Grease.

1977 to 1988:

In 1977, the now iconic MSC log cabin booth at the Alaska State Fair was built and placed on the grounds where it still can be found to this day. In 1980, the MSC acquired its library. The name was changed again in the university merger in 1988 to the current name, Matanuska-Susitna College.s

Song: “Man in the Mirror” written and performed by Michael Jackson (1988).

1992 to 1995:

In 1992, there was groundbreaking for what is now the Machetanz building. The college also added the Snodgrass Bridge to connect Snodgrass Hall to the main campus. At the time, Snodgrass was the only place students had to venture outside to access. In 1995, the MSC student paper, the Mat-Su Monitor was formed.

Song: “My Heart Will Go On” by Celine Dion (as heard in the 1997 blockbuster Titanic)

2011 to 2018:

MSC adopted its official mascot, the “Arctic Dragons” in 2011. In 2016, the Glenn Massay Theater was built on campus and named after former MSC director Glenn Massay. In 2018, about 7,200 people came to the recent VPA production of Mary Poppins, according to Colberg.

Song: “I’m Yours” written and performed by Jason Mraz (2008)