EL PASO, Texas -- A large number of the students who were forced to stop their massage therapy education are now finishing what they started at El Paso Community College.

Two months ago, Maria Natera and this group of massage therapy students found themselves at a loss when the Institute of Beauty and Massage formally, known as the Austin School of Massage, closed its doors back in August.

"It was actually really hectic. We found out one day that the school was closing we thought it was a joke," said Natera.

It wasn't a joke. As KFOX reported, the institute closed because of financial and economic reasons. This left Maria and about a dozen students looking at a bleak future. Until now.

"Grateful, grateful. They took us in, they made space for us the instructors made time to set up our classes," said Anthony Arreola, a student who will be finishing the program soon.

El Paso Community College helped. Because these students were so far a long in their education it was hard to place them in classes, so the college hired their former instructor, Natera, to finish the last 100 hours the students needed under the college's continuing education program.

"We couldn't believe it. I pointed it out to them, they made this happen. They made this happen," said Natera.

Some of these students said, they still haven't seen their money reimbursed from the Institute of Beauty and Massage. They still had to pay tuition for EPCC, but nothing close to the thousands of dollars they gave to the institute. And now they said they can see a light at the end of the tunnel.

"I'm gonna get my certification then I'll take my licensing exam. Then I can start a little career as a massage therapist," said Arreola.

The students set up fundraisers in order to pay for their tuition since the lost thousands of dollars to the institute. Their internship starts Oct. 5. In order to get hands on experience the students need clients to work on. They're asking people to help by calling 915-831-4101 and schedule a massage for $20.