Bacone College officials had to raise more than money before reopening the historic Poloke-Bosen Hall as a dormitory and gathering place for Native American honor students.

“The building once housed children at Murrow Children’s Home, so we had to raise the shower heads,” Bacone President Robert Duncan said at the dormitory’s ribbon-cutting and blessing Thursday afternoon.

The three-story dark brick dormitory, which dates to 1922, has been renovated and opened as the home of Bacone’s American Indian Learning Work Community.

The community is an honors program for academically advanced Indian students who show a financial need, Duncan said. Through the program, participating students live and work together. They earn money working various jobs on campus and participate in Native American activities.

“It’s all community-oriented,” said Kyle Taylor, director of the American Indian Learning Community. “Indian students have the dubious distinction of having the lowest graduation rate. If you tap into their culture, students are more likely to graduate.”

Dorm residents, Bacone officials and Chamber of Commerce members stood in silence as Pawnee Tribal Council member Marshall Gover burned cedar to bless the building at the ceremony.

Bacone College cultural interpreter John Timothy played the alma mater song on the traditional flute.

After Duncan’s address, visitors picked up refreshments in a hallway dominated by three sunny arched windows.

Duncan said the first floor of the dormitory opened last semester for the program. Female students moved into the second floor this semester. The third floor is being prepared for male students, he said.

Bacone student Jessica Overstreet from Alabama participates in the program. She said the new dorm rooms are “really nice.”

“The other dormitories had bunk beds,” she said. “Almost all the rooms here are private rooms.”

She said she’s attended meetings and gone to Native American activities in the dormitory.

Reach Cathy Spaulding at 684-2928 or cspaulding@muskogeephoenix.com