Mat-Su College grads embody the tenacity it will take for university to thrive

PALMER — With the state’s university system squarely in the crosshairs of budget-cutters in Juneau, even a graduation speech at the University of Alaska Mat-Su College is fraught with politics for UAA President Jim Johnsen.

In introducing Johnsen ahead of his speech at Friday night’s commencement ceremony at the Glenn Massay Theater, Mat-Su College Director Dr. Talis Colberg admiringly likened Johnsen to the Knight in Monty Python’s ‘The Holy Grail’.

“His response was very positive, and with much bravado he would say, ‘only a flesh wound’, as he proceeds to lose limb after limb,” Colberg said. “I think of our president, as he goes through the budget, and cut after cut he says, ‘it’s merely a flesh wound.’”

Johnsen looked at the medallion hanging around his neck, and noted on it the year 1917. Using the opportunity of the school’s centennial, he took a step back, and a step forward in time to put the university’s challenge into perspective.

“Imagine the people who founded what was then the Alaska Agricultural College and School of Mines. They had no clue they had the faith, the courage the grit, the commitment to found this institution,” Johnsen said. “So here we are today. We benefit from all that courage and vision those people had. Now think forward 100 years… Our successors will look and say, ‘those folks in 2017 — they had it tough; the state, the university were in a tough situation. But you know what? They had grit, they had courage, they loved Alaska and they knew what it took to build a great state… to build a great state, you need a great university.”

Johnsen pointed to the types of personal challenges graduates of two-year institutions often face as inspiration for the university as a whole.

“The best evidence of our strength is these graduates right here; every one of whom has faced a challenge to be here this evening,” Johnsen said. “Because of their strength, their ability to face challenges, I am absolutely confident in our success.”

Student speaker Corrina Atkins spoke to those challenges many community college graduates face when making the decision to get back into school, sometimes years since their last classroom appearance.

“About two years ago, we knocked on that door, that big door, heavy and terrifying… we’re here tonight as proof of our tenacity and determination,” Atkins said. “Many of us showed up slightly disheveled and likely overwhelmed by our accomplishments.”

Atkins spoke to the remarkable diversity of the Mat-Su College student body.

“...students fresh out of high school, to veterans to parents and grandparents who felt it was to time to go back to school. We all experienced the same trials and we are here this evening because we didn’t let a difficult class or a bad paper hold us back,” she said. “When we felt overwhelmed and burnt out, we turned to each other. We vented, we cried, we complained and we worked together.”

Atkins closed by quoting a line from ‘The Fresh Prince of Bel Air’, where Will Smith’s character notes of his first experience skydiving: “God places the best things in life on the maximum side of fear.”

“You may be stressed about the next bend in the path,” Atkins concluded. “But all of us have made it this far and there’s nowhere to go but up from here.”

University of Alaska Mat-Su College 2017 Graduating Class

Occupational Endorsement Certificate

Computer Information & Office Systems

Office Foundations

Jeffrey Dillon Erwin

Guido Kevin Jacobs

Refrigeration & Heating Technology

Commercial HVAC Systems

Commercial Refrigeration Systems

Residential and Light Commercial Air-Conditioning & Refrigeration

Residential and Light Commercial Heating and Ventilation

Hugh R. Fleury

Timothy Robin Miller

Sustainable Energy

Cayle David Cleman

Veterinary Assisting

Therese Daunnte Mechell Haynes

Camille N. Kevan

Certificate

Refrigeration & Heating Technology

Niels Michael Sloth

Associate of Arts

Pamela Lorraine Aki

Edwin James Russell Anderson

Kleigh Christopher Anderton

Jamie Renee Antonson

Corrina Ann Atkins

Patrick Bruce Babin III

Jeremiah John Bang

Clifton N. Benton (UAA)

Ariana Rose Boney-Catone

Seth James Bowen

Sarah V. Brahaney

Paul Owen Broderson

Jeffrey T. Burnette

Mikhayla Anne Chapman

Jennifer Linn Chesbro

Cayle David Cleman

Daniel William Contini

Michelle C. Cooney

Cheyenne Ashley Doto

Savannah L. Egan

Derek J. Evans

Lyssa Rene Farnsworth

Trevor K. Farnsworth (UAA)

Casandra Lee Gallagher

Rachel Lyn Goodall

Scott Maynard Green

Shaun Alan Groshong

Michael Seraphim Haley

Destiny Danielle Hamann

Crystal Ann Hamlin

Brandon Alexander Hanks

Joe-Mikel Harsh

Jeffrey Alan Holley

Ismail Mohamed Ibrahim

Jay I. Jennings

Melissa Lynne Jones

Shayla Vernice Jordan

Mariko Elisabeth Kays

Stacey Renee Kessler

John Hugh King

John Andrew Knight

Travis Beau Knight

Scott James Knighten

Brooks A. Larson

Douglas Joseph Lentz

Cody Wayne Lewis

Rebecca E. Manthey

Melody Hope Mcllroy

Larissa Jean McMahill

Misty Keren Miller

Joseph Andrew Miller

Ashley Renee Morgan

Jonathan Brandon Neisler

Renee Michelle Newman

Teri Lynn Olsen

Rachael Shawna O’Malley

Samantha Elaine O’Mara

Heather Ruth Ramirez-Nunn

Kaitlynn A. Randolph

Jeremy K. Reeder

Robert Topp Logan Reid

George William Rinkevage III

Sierra Rose Sackett

Riana Mishael Renee Sather

Sierra Rose Schnell

Brittany M. Shattuck

Leif Ericson Skow

Eugenia Miranda Smith

Donna Marie Smith

Jacklyn R. Sorenson

Darla Christine Soulak

Gabrielle Lynn St Clair

Stephanie Nicole Steele

Kristin Marie Steward

Amanda Courtney Stoddard

Matthew I. Swanson (UAA)

Molly R. Swanson

Joseph James Trask

Lauren Joyce Waite

Brittny Lee Warnock

Joshua Kouhei Watanabe

Rachel Lindsay Wyatt

Associate of Applied Science

Accounting

Morgan Rynee Andrews

Danielle Anne Apthorp

Michele Marie Bailey

Katherine Merideth Coffey

Kayla Gene Geisinger

Katy Ann Hewitt

Ilona Ilnitsky

Juliet Natasha Jasper

Leon Yoshito Kitagawa

Christina Erica Kulakevich

Heather McGee

Alexandria Jade Ramsey

Mikhail Mykhalov Tereshchenko

Kong B. Thao

Computer Systems Technology

Lawrence Dwaine Green

Hannah Lee Holder

Guido Kevin Jacobs

Jeremiah Darrel Sonnenberg

James J. Wheeler

General Business

Deanna Denay Earle

Derek Edward Homme

Stuart C. Lamirand

Melissa Sue Marshall

Elise Nicole Mikulecky

Cory Louis Peterson

Milissa Ann Vent

James Benjamin Wright

Human Services

Tyanda Nicole Lavendusky

Megan Anne Orrell

Alex Pineiro

Karl Robert Soderstrom

Steven Leslie Traeger

Jeffery LaForrest Walker

Nursing

Megan M. Anderson (UAA)

Paramedical Technology

Sarah Lynn Carver

Katrina Anne Knowlton

Christopher Lee Ling

Justin Michael Taylor

Refrigeration and Heating Technology

Heather Dawn Buben

Cayle David Cleman

Luke Steven Faulkner

Ismail Mohamed Ibrahim

Roberto Calitis Vina

Todd Roderick Walker

Small Business Administration

Morgan Rynee Andrews

Melody Ann Harris

Kelly Marie Robbins

Other Graduates Joining the commencement

UAA College of Arts & Science

Bachelor of Science, Environment and Society

Brandy N. Graham

UAA College of Education

Bachelor of Arts, Elementary Education

Melissa Mallett (2016)

UAA College of Engineering

Master of Science, Project Management

Brian K. Swanson

UAA College of Health

Bachelor of Science, Health Sciences

Brittany S. Carie

Bachelor of Science, Nursing Science

Rhoda Woodworth

UAS University of Alaska Southeast

Bachelor of Business, Business Administration

Gregory L. Bultron

Leona M. Shell

Master of Arts in Teaching, Education

Karina Warner