Some LSU students affected by Hurricane Katrina will be starting a new life in Germany this year with international aid from German universities.
Phillips University in Marburg – a city in Hessen, a state in central Germany – and Otto-Friedrich University in Bamberg – a Bavarian city in southeastern Germany – are offering full scholarships to students affected by the hurricane.
Udo Corts, German Minister for Higher Education, Research and the Arts, asked the presidents of the German universities to support the universities in the disaster area, said Thomas Komm, director of the international office at Phillips University in an e-mail to The Daily Reveille.
“I had learned from the news that the LSU had to accommodate thousands of students from other universities being directly affected by Katrina,” Komm said. “We then thought it would appear reasonable to give stipends to those students who got into financial distress so that they could continue studying for one year and would at least not have to worry about money.”
Komm said the studying abroad could also be a chance for students to distance themselves from the aftermath of the hurricane.
Phillips University is offering scholarships that include tuition for one academic year, 700 Euros per month – equivalent to about $841 – to cover living costs, air fare and money for additional expenses, Komm said.
LSU students have already applied for scholarships at Phillips University and Otto-Friedrich University, said Harald Leder with the Office of International Programs.
Leder said the German universities start school in October, which is short notice for students applying for scholarships, but students are still applying. Leder also said other universities in Germany are offering scholarships, and that his office will accommodate interested students as best as possible.
Phillips University was not expecting a positive reaction from students interested in the
scholarships because the administration feared the offer could be regarded as offensive, Komm said, citing the United States’ refusal of German relief efforts after Hurricane Katrina.
Krystle Sims, a scholarship recipient from New Orleans, is busy scheduling classes in anticipation of her year at Otto-Friedrich University, including an intensive 20-hour per week German class. Sims said she hopes to take classes solely in German by spring semester.
“My family pretty much lived in two areas – Carrolton and the lakes near City Park,” said Sims, whose family members lost many of their homes because of Katrina. “We lost it in one fell swoop.”
Sims, English sophomore, said she applied for the scholarship because she is minoring in German and hopes to learn more about the culture and language.
“It’s an opportunity I couldn’t pass up,” Sims said. “I didn’t expect to fall in love with the language.”
Sims said she hasn’t had time to stop and think about the full effect that moving to Germany will have on her life, such as missing her family and friends. Paul Bangs, Sims’ boyfriend and geology sophomore from New Orleans also minoring in German, also applied for a scholarship at Phillips University, about 200 miles away from Sims, and is still waiting to hear if he received a scholarship.
“It’s one of those things where everything happens so fast,” Sims said. “I sent my application in on a Thursday and by Sunday or Monday, I knew I was going. I haven’t had a chance to sit down and say ‘I’m leaving.'”
Contact Leslie Ziober at [email protected]