UNC Asheville Students from Hurricane-Stricken Gulf Coast Head Home

As the fall semester comes to a close, eight UNC Asheville students are making plans to return to their homes and college careers in the hurricane-stricken Gulf Coast.

“In times of national tragedy, our compassion for those affected is often accompanied by an eagerness to be of genuine help to those in distress. UNC Asheville was uniquely positioned to enthusiastically welcome these displaced students, since our passion for education runs parallel to our passion for service to others,” said UNC Asheville Chancellor Anne Ponder. “As fellow citizens of the world, we were overjoyed to offer this gift of continuity to those students whose college experience might otherwise have experienced an even greater disruption.”

Though the students are eager to get back to their normal routines, all expressed their gratitude to UNC Asheville and appreciated being able to continue their college careers. “We were totally displaced – this keeps me on track to graduate and move on to graduate school,” said Jamie Bernstein, who will return to his senior year at the University of New Orleans next month.

Candler native Lauren Anderson is anxious to return to her freshman year at Tulane University. Anderson moved into her dorm and three hours later was ordered to evacuate. Through the chaotic evacuation and ensuing devastation, Anderson has maintained strong ties to Tulane via e-mail and the Web.

“All the students and professors at UNC Asheville were very helpful during the transition, but I miss Tulane and I’m ready to get back there,” she said. Anderson is eager to move back into her dorm in New Orleans and lend a hand to the reconstruction efforts. “I’m looking forward to helping to rebuild the city. I plan on volunteering with a Habitat for Humanity and in the local schools.”

On September 1, UNC President Molly Corbett Broad announced that the 16 campuses of the University of North Carolina were committed to assisting students enrolled at universities that were forced to close as a result of Hurricane Katrina. Some 187 students enrolled systemwide.

Media Contacts:

• Leigh McBride, UNC Asheville Associate Director of Admissions, 828/251-6498
• Jill Yarnall, UNC Asheville Public Information Assistant Director, 828/251-6526