CIU international student Emilia Niedzielska says her primary goal is to serve God to the best of her abilities, seeking to bring Him glory rather than seeking recognition for herself.

“My desire is to deepen my relationship with Him and share His truth with others,” said the senior Communication major from Cracow, Poland, who credits her closer walk with God to her CIU experience.

“While at CIU, I strengthened my spiritual connection with God and gained a deeper understanding of my theological beliefs and the Bible,” Niedzielska said. “CIU is truly an incredible environment that has greatly influenced my personal development. I am incredibly grateful for having discovered the truth found in Christ during my time here, largely due to the meaningful conversations with fellow students, professors, and mentors who invested in my growth.”

One person in particular Niedzielska points to is a now retired staff member, Sue Konieczko, who was her supervisor when she held a student worker position in the library.

“Her selflessness, willingness to listen, and dedication to the spiritual development of her employees left a profound impact on me,” Niedzielska said. “She demonstrated genuine love and care for me, consistently imparting biblical truths during our work interactions.”

Niedzeilska also notes that residential hall life is also close to her heart, particularly because she  had “the privilege of serving as an RA.”

“The sense of community within Res Life was extraordinary, it allowed me to develop strong friendships and opportunities to show love and serve others,” Niedzeilska said. “Through God's grace, I've forged lasting, God-centered relationships at CIU with individuals who genuinely care about me and prioritize God in everything they do.”

A spring 2023 student satisfaction survey identified the factor most important to CIU students and CIU’s top strength as “My relationship with God has been strengthened.” 

CIU is celebrating 100 years of its mission to “educate people from a biblical worldview to impact the nations with the message of Christ.” The university consistently ranks among the Top Regional Universities in the South by U.S. News & World Report, as well as a Best Value Regional University in the South. Apply now or request information on enrollment by contacting Admissions at (803) 807-5024 or admissions@ciu.edu.