TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WCTV) – Two Florida State University professors are helping raise money for a pair of graduate students who were impacted by the apartment fire at the Social Seminole last week.
“They lost everything,” said Biological Science Professor Beth Stroupe. She also serves as the director of the Molecular Biophysics Graduate Program at FSU. The fire displaced two international students in her program, so she and Professor Scott Stagg are trying to help get them back on their feet.
“They came here with a couple of suitcases and had began building their lives here, both socially and academically,” Stroupe said. “They had the clothes on their back when they were evacuated from their apartment.”
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Stagg said the department immediately came together to help support the students, whose identity they are keeping confidential.
“Molecular biophysics is a small program. We really are a very tight-knit community – sort of a family – so, we all know each other,” Stagg said. “When everyone found out about the fire, everyone wanted to help.”
The professors created a GoFundMe to support the students and keep them focused on their education while they work to bounce back.
“Being brand new to the country and then losing everything, and so everyone’s heart really went out to them,” Stagg said.
As dozens of other students were also impacted by the fire, FSU has a student emergency fund to help those involved. You can learn more about the fund by clicking here.
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