In 1989, an innovative international alliance was formed between Delta College and Rift Valley Institute of Science and Technology (RVIST) in Nakuru, Kenya. 

Throughout the 35-year sisterly union, unbroken themes of shared learning, collaboration and international team building have been at the root of every initiative. The late Dr. Betty B. Jones, former vice president of academics at Delta College, was instrumental in the development of this partnership in Kenya. Upon her retirement in 2001, Betty wrote a remarkable and inspirational story titled, A Tale of Two Valleys, which documented the partnership.

During Betty’s first trip to RVIST in 1989, she visited their library—a small space, with little light and only a handful of books. Gradually, the library transformed to a more updated facility occupying a single building with three large well-lit rooms and a diverse book collection supporting the curricula. That library has since been renamed in her honor — Dr. Betty Jones Memorial Library and Media Center. 

As a tribute to his late wife, Betty, and as a gift to RVIST, Preston Jones, donated Betty’s personal collection of over 500 books to RVIST. With the support of Betty’s sorority, Mu Alpha Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha, Inc., the Delta College Foundation, Dr. Reva Curry and Jack Crowell, $6,000 was raised in support of this major book shipment, which had an estimated cost of $4,500. The remainder of the funds raised were added to the S. Preston and Dr. Betty B. Jones International Travel Endowed Scholarship benefiting Delta students. But for those who cannot travel, as Emily Dickinson once said, “There is no frigate like a book to take us lands away.”

“There is the saying, ‘you can’t tell a book by its cover.’ True, but the covers of the books you have read can tell a story of you. What that story is, is left to others to be read and to be discovered,” shared Jack Crowell, a former Peace Corps volunteer and retired professor at Delta College. “The gift of Betty’s personal library consists of books that represent her many diverse interests. They will give others stories to be read, discussions to be had and thoughts to be written.” 

Jack helped organize how the books would be packed at the Jones’ home. He also arranged the shipping vendor who facilitated transport of the over 1,100-pound pallet from Delta directly to RVIST by aircraft. Mr. Paul Cheatham, our RVIST contact, notified Jack of the arrival of the donation at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport on June 20, 2024.

“Thank you to the Midland Noon Rotary Club, the Mu Alpha Omega Chapter of the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority and the substantial list of donors who contributed toward the shipping cost for the books,” says Dr. Curry, Delta College’s vice president of Instruction and Learning.