Florida State University’s Unconquered Scholars banquet celebrates student resilience, achievement
Florida State University student Zahria Moore grew up in a tough situation.
As she describes it, her mother was abusive, struggled with alcohol dependency, and spent time in prison, causing Moore and her siblings to face food insecurity and homelessness. She saw school as her safe space, and that continued through college.
Moore is set to graduate FSU this summer with a bachelor’s degree in criminology, thanks to FSU’s Unconquered Scholars Program, which provides support services and a community for students who have faced profound hardships during childhood that may increase their risk of leaving academia without a degree.
The Unconquered Scholars Program held its annual banquet Monday, March 31, at FSU’s Miller Hall to celebrate the 136 students currently enrolled in the program and to recognize the 42 students who will be graduating this year.
“This program feels like drinking from a wishing well,” Moore said in her keynote address at the banquet. “Everything that I wanted, everything that I came to college looking for, I found in this remarkable program and these amazing people. My family, my home away from home, my safe space, my confidants.”
“This program feels like drinking from a wishing well. Everything that I wanted, everything that I came to college looking for, I found in this remarkable program and these amazing people.”
– Zahria Moore, Unconquered Scholar and summer 2025 graduate
The post Florida State University’s Unconquered Scholars banquet celebrates student resilience, achievement appeared first on Florida State University News.
Latest All News
- Statement from President McCullough to FSU communityDear FSU community, Today, we experienced a tragic and senseless act of violence at the heart of our campus. At […] The post Statement from President McCullough to FSU community appeared first on Florida State University News.
- FSU chemist awarded $3.4M grant to investigate protein complexes in bacteria that cause tuberculosisA Florida State University chemistry researcher will use new funding to explore ways to halt tuberculosis, one of the world’s […] The post FSU chemist awarded $3.4M grant to investigate protein complexes in bacteria that cause tuberculosis appeared first on Florida State University News.
- Dirac Lectures Offer Historic Research FindingsThe post Dirac Lectures Offer Historic Research Findings appeared first on Florida State University News.
- Reef resilience: FSU doctoral student selected for Guy Harvey Fellowship for coral reef research in the Florida KeysA Florida State University doctoral student has earned a competitive fellowship to conduct coastal and marine conservation research in the […] The post Reef resilience: FSU doctoral student selected for Guy Harvey Fellowship for coral reef research in the Florida Keys appeared first on Florida State University News.
- FSU and 60 Degrees Pharmaceuticals announce option agreement to accelerate health product developmentFlorida State University and 60 Degrees Pharmaceuticals have signed an agreement to give the biotech company access to the university’s […] The post FSU and 60 Degrees Pharmaceuticals announce option agreement to accelerate health product development appeared first on Florida State University News.
- Institute for Governance and Civics Caps Semester with Big EventThe post Institute for Governance and Civics Caps Semester with Big Event appeared first on Florida State University News.
