Matanuska-Susitna College Connects with Roots, Literally

PALMER — On Wednesday, May 30, 2018 the Matanuska-Susitna College was re-connected with its roots. Two apple trees, both arguably older than the college (founded in 1958), were re-located from the Kerttula Family Farm near Palmer to the grounds of the college. The trees had been slated for destruction as a part of the reconfiguration of the highway near Palmer. However, in a collaborative effort with DOT, Larry DeVilbiss, the Plant Materials Center, the University of Alaska and the Kerttula Family, the two ancient apple trees were uprooted and moved to the Matanuska-Susitna College campus. The trees have now been re-planted next to Kerttula Hall. Kerttula Hall is named for former Alaska State Sentaor Jalmar Kerttula who represented the valley in Juneau for more than thirty years. Sen. Kerttula was instrumental in procuring funding for the physical establishment of the first college building in 1972.Now Sen. Kerttula’s trees will now blossom next to Kerttula Hall.

This year is the sixtieth anniversary of the establishment of the Matanuska-Susitna College. The re-location of the trees on the sixtieth birthday of the institution is literally reconnecting the college with the roots of one of its founding figures.