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Earthquake Hero Studying Biology At Florida Tech

By  //  September 21, 2012

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Rescuer Receives College Scholarship

BREVARD COUNTY • MELBOURNE, FLORIDA – A genuine hero is attending classes at the Florida Institute of Technology this fall.

Chinese earthquake hero Ma Jian, center, is studying biology this fall at the Florida Institute of Technology. He is joined by Dr. Anthony Catanese, Florida tech president and Stephanie Enstice, Florida Tech associate director of international admissions. (Image courtesy Florida Tech)

Ma Jian  has enrolled at Florida Tech as a biology major.

Chinese officials were moved and inspired by the selflessness shown by Jian in Yingxiu Village in China following the Sichuan Province earthquake of May 2008.

He spent five hours in pouring rain to dig out his classmate, Xiang Xiaolian with bare hands.

Jian then helped two others who were trapped, offering drinking water in the dim glow of a small lighter.

Last year, the Chinese government showed their gratitude to Jian by awarding him a college scholarship.

“We were just so impressed with this determined young man who risked his personal safety to rescue others. It would make us very proud to have him at our university,” said Florida Tech President and Chief Executive Officer Anthony J. Catanese.

The Sichuan Province earthquake killed an estimated 68,000 people.