Wenatchee Valley College will celebrate the construction and naming of the new Wells Hall replacement on Tuesday, Sept. 14th.

WVC announced details in a news release last week. The ceremony and building blessing begins at 4 p.m. featuring remarks by WVC President Jim Richardson, family of Gloria Atkins, Representative Mike Steele, Associated Students of Wenatchee Valley College (ASWVC) president, tribal representatives and others.

The new building will be named “Mish ee twie” in honor of higher education advocate, respected tribal elder and Wenatchi Advisory Board founding member Mish ee twie (Gloria L. Atkins). The WVC Board of Trustees chose the name at their June board meeting.

Mish ee twie is Gloria L. Atkins’ Native American name. Gloria served as Colville Tribes Higher Education Director and was instrumental in hundreds of students’ lives throughout the region during her more than 45 years of service in the tribes’ education department. She was a founding and active member of the Colville Tribes Wenatchi Advisory Board and was instrumental in restoring the fishing rights to the Wenatchi Tribe in 2010. She was a respected tribal elder and continued to be instrumental in traditional tribal activities and tribal events until her passing in 2019.

Construction on the new building began in fall 2019. Mish ee twie now houses 25 classrooms and multiple program and instructor offices. In addition, the building houses the Jack & Edna Maguire conference center and the Chelan County Emergency Operations Center. The building is set to open fall quarter. Classes begin Sept. 27. Learn more about the project at wvc.edu/ConstructionUpdates.

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