Vet. Tech. Visit at Mat-Su College
Contributed by Nick McDermott
Mat-Su College Veterinary Sciences program got a checkup of sorts from (R-AK) Senator Lisa Murkowski. While on a short break from Congress, Alaska’s senior senator toured the College’s new Veterinary Sciences classrooms and took time to meet with students, faculty and staff.
Mat-Su College’s Veterinary Technology Program is the is the first for the state of Alaska and was launched at the start of the Fall 2024 semester. In the animal medical world, a Veterinary Technician is the human equivalent of a hospital nurse. According to program Co-chair Rebecca Walker, the program is hitting expected milestones and “We're pleased to have the support of the State of Alaska, the Mat-Su Borough and the veterinary community.”
Alexis Hinther is one of the dedicated students working her way through the program. “I was glad that Senator Murkowski was able to come and visit with our cohort as well as tour our facilities.” She continued, “It makes me beyond happy that we have supporters all over the state for a program that is teaching the next generation of Veterinary Technicians.”
According to Program Co-Director Judy Montalbano says the senator “was very supportive of the program and seemed impressed by what we showed her.” She adds, “The senator spoke encouraging words to the students and took time to pose for a picture with them.”
Alexis and her classmates are about halfway through the program at Mat-Su College and the next group of students will start once they finish. If you’re interested in working with pets and their owners, Alexis says this could be a good time for you to start working on your general education classes and other program prerequisites, so you can really focus on your future career.
For more information about Veterinary Sciences at Mat-Su College, visit matsu.alaska.edu/academic-programs.