{"id":58486,"date":"2014-01-24T08:34:45","date_gmt":"2014-01-24T14:34:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.deltastate.edu\/news-and-events\/?p=58486"},"modified":"2014-01-24T08:40:14","modified_gmt":"2014-01-24T14:40:14","slug":"from-kenya-together-at-delta-state","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.deltastate.edu\/news-and-events\/2014\/01\/from-kenya-together-at-delta-state\/","title":{"rendered":"From Kenya, together at Delta State"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Rose<\/a>

Alice Koech and Rosa Kamau, both from Kenya, have found new opportunities at Delta State.<\/p><\/div>\n

In 2009, two Kenyan students came separately to America with a passion to earn a college degree. In a short matter of time, a mutual friend at community college introduced the two, and they\u2019ve remained close ever since.<\/p>\n

Their educational careers have led them both to Delta State, an institution they have quickly fallen in love with.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s been a wonderful experience so far,\u201d said Alice Koech, a pre-nursing student. \u201cThe people are so welcoming and have helped me so much to feel at home.\u201d<\/p>\n

Rosa Kamau, an aviation management major, shares many of the same sentiments.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m very grateful for the support everyone has given us,\u201d said Kamau. \u201cIt helps my parents to know that everyone has been making sure we\u2019re comfortable here.\u201d<\/p>\n

Koech is now in her second semester of classes, while Kamau has only been on campus for a couple weeks with the start of the spring schedule. Yet both have quickly transitioned to Delta State thanks to the help of giving faculty, staff, students and community members.<\/p>\n

The friends first learned about the university when they were enrolled at Kalamazoo Valley Community College in Michigan. Kamau attended the national Phi Theta Kappa Convention in Tennessee, and it was there that she met Chris Gaines, director of recruiting at Delta State.<\/p>\n

\u201cPhi Theta Kappa is a great opportunity for two-year college students that leads to full tuition scholarships based on academic performance,\u201d said Gaines. \u201cBoth Alice and Rosa met the qualifications \u2014 so it was really neat to meet one of them at the convention and eventually see them become students at Delta State.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe stayed in touch throughout the application process, and it\u2019s wonderful to witness them follow through and become a part of campus. It\u2019s a very rewarding experience for everyone.\u201d<\/p>\n

Koech, a dedicated Christian, also took the initiative to contact local churches before she moved to Cleveland. She sent numerous emails and letters and managed to make a connection with Jondelyn Catlette, coordinator for the Canterbury Campus Ministry at the Calvary Episcopal Church.<\/p>\n

From the moment Koech arrived at the bus stop in Cleveland, Catlette, Priest Sylvia Czarnetzky and other members of the church, have continued to help her with donations, gift cards, food, furniture and adjusting to life in her apartment.<\/p>\n

\u201cI just love watching how Alice has blossomed at school and in the Delta,\u201d said Catlette. \u201cShe\u2019s so overwhelmed with gratitude and has always been extremely thankful. For us in the church, it\u2019s been such a giving experience.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe are happy Rosa is here now too, and we look forward to watching them bloom at Delta State and in the community.\u201d<\/p>\n

Another support contact for the girls has been the International Student Services office on campus.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt has been a pleasure to work with both Alice and Rosa throughout their admissions process and also once they arrived at Delta State,\u201d said Elise Mallette, international student advisor. \u201cThis is Rosa\u2019s first semester with us, but we are extremely excited she is here and to have the chance to spend time with her.<\/p>\n

\u201cAs for Alice, she has adjusted extremely well to our unique Southern culture and with our other students, both international and domestic. I can honestly say I\u2019ve never seen her without a huge smile.\u201d<\/p>\n

President William N. LaForge has been very vocal about increasing the international student population, which last year alone served students in 23 different majors. The Kenyan duo has already shown why LaForge strongly advocates for an international student body.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe are definitely looking forward to learning more about Alice and Rosa\u2019s culture, their international student perspective, and just the stories they will be able to tell us about things back home and in their travels,\u201d added Mallette. \u201cThat\u2019s one of the best parts of working with the international students \u2014 getting to hear about places and things that we may not ever get to see or experience ourselves.\u201d<\/p>\n

With Koech having a one-semester upper hand at Delta State, she\u2019s already paying it forward to Rosa as she helps her friend settle in.<\/p>\n

\u201cSo many people have helped me and now I can turn around and help Rosa,\u201d said Koech. \u201cThe support here is a great example of the opportunities for international students. The Phi Theta Kappa scholarship makes it possible and all the support opens channels.<\/p>\n

\u201cWords can not express how thankful I am to everyone \u2014 but I can show this through my actions and by being a part of the community.\u201d<\/p>\n

To learn more about the international experience at Delta State, visit https:\/\/www.deltastate.edu\/student-affairs\/international-students<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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