“Thank you for the opportunity you have given me with this scholarship.”

Christine is the first student to receive the Alvin S. and Gloria M. Okeson Scholarship. A lifelong Alaskan, she has always had strong ties to the Mat-Su community. So when she decided to return to school, Matanuska-Susitna College was an easy choice. But working full time and supporting a family while attending school isn’t so easy.

“My husband and I are on a limited income. Without this scholarship I would not be able to buy the books and supplies I need for my classes.”

The Okeson Scholarship provides support to Christine and students like her, by relieving some of the financial burden and allowing them to focus on making the most of their educational opportunities. Thanks to her hard work and the support of donors like you, Christine will graduate this December with her associate degree in accounting.

“Thank you for this generous scholarship. Without it, life and school would be much more difficult.”

“I’m just hoping I can help as many people along the way as I’m able.”

Gloria and Alvin Okeson have been a part of Matanuska-Susitna College since the very beginning, and played a pivotal role in the growth and development of the college. For more than 20 years Alvin served as director of Mat-Su College, while Gloria volunteered her time as a bookkeeper when there were no funds to hire more staff. In fact, the whole Okeson family has been involved with the college over the years. All three of the Okeson children (Phil, Mark and Pam) took classes at Mat-Su College while in high school to better prepare them for their transition to university studies.

“[The scholarship] was one of those things we were building and growing and working hard to keep afloat.”

Although Alvin passed away in 2011, the legacy of his commitment to Mat-Su College lives on in the Okeson family through their support of the Alvin S. and Gloria M. Okeson Scholarship. Endowed in 2010, the Okeson Scholarship provides vital financial assistance for non-traditional students at Mat-Su College.

“You can never go wrong giving to a scholarship. It gives students an extra incentive that they can’t get elsewhere. If you’re in a position to help, contributing to the success of young people is very rewarding.”