BOCA RATON – Despite grim, daily reports that four Lynn University students and two members of the faculty are still missing in earthquake-torn Haiti, families of the six families hold on to hope that they will be found.
“The condition and location of the missing Lynn University students from the ‘Journey of Hope-Haiti’ are still unknown at this hour, though information provided to Lynn officials indicates that search and rescue operations continue at the Hotel Montana,” says a statement issued by the Boca Raton-based university Wednesday afternoon.
It generally echoed the morning advisory that said search and rescue efforts were continuing at the hotel in Port-au-Prince.
Students Stephanie Crispinelli, Brittany Gengel, Christine Gianacaci and Courtney Hayes have not been located, nor have the two professors – Patrick Hartwick and Richard Bruno – who led the trip intended to bring assistance to residents of the poor Caribbean country. The 14 people from Lynn arrived only an hour or so before the destructive earthquake struck. Eight students have been located and have returned to the United States.
Wednesday morning’s update hinted at a possibility of danger at the site as a strong aftershock hit the island overnight. The statement issued Wednesday by the university said: “Shortly after 6 this morning, a magnitude 6.1 aftershock struck near Port-au-Prince, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. The tremor was confirmed to be felt at the Hotel Montana site. Search and rescue efforts were temporarily suspended, but reports indicate that they have since resumed.
In addition to the work being done at the hotel site, Lynn staff living in the Dominican Republic continue to search for the half-dozen missing travelers.
Earlier this week Lynn University President Kevin M. Ross, speaking to a standing room only crowd in the school cafeteria, pressed everyone to continue to be hopeful for a good end to the search, and pointed out that counseling services are available to the campus community. He also announced that scheduled classes and athletic events would continue without interruption at this time.
Lynn officials have also announced a new university fund available to those wishing to support “members of our campus community, including students, faculty, and staff members, who have been affected by the Haiti earthquake event.”
To learn more, or make a donation, visit our.lynn.edu/HaitiCrisisFund.