Meet members of the Class of 2021 as they discuss their time at CIU and look to the future

Grace Hipp grew up on a farm in Saluda, South Carolina and is graduating with a major in Business Administration with a concentration in Intercultural Management.

How has CIU prepared you for the future?

CIU has provided the environment to cultivate my growth both spiritually and academically. I have developed a global-focused mentality that looks at how to serve and love those around me. I’ve grown in spiritual maturity and know I can confidently seek after the Lord once leaving the safe walls of this school.

In an academic sense, I’ve been provided a rigorous education that has combined foundational concepts with applicable knowledge that I’ll easily be able to use beyond the classroom. CIU has incredible Business, Bible, and Intercultural Studies professors that have been vital in my preparation, and I can’t thank them enough!

What is your fondest memory of CIU? 

One of my fondest memories of CIU is swing dancing. It provided me with such a unique opportunity to learn a new skill and develop close relationships I know will extend beyond my time at CIU. It was so much fun!!

What has God taught you during your time at CIU?

God has taught me a lot of lessons, and some took longer to recognize than others. One of the first lessons He taught me was that it wasn’t so much about finding the one career He had planned for me in order to fulfill my purpose. God has planted in me so many different passions that I know will all merge together over the course of my lifetime to be used as part of His ultimate plan. 

What will you miss the most about CIU?

I am going to miss the people the most. The community that is accessible to students here is one I know is a rarity to find anywhere else on the planet. I am going to miss the people that have grown with me, poured into me, and allowed me to pour into them over the course of my three years here. It is hard to say goodbye; however, it is one that is bittersweet and one I will forever cherish.

What are your future plans?

My plans right after graduation are to get married and move into the new house that my fiancé and I are in the process of buying. Starting mid-May, I will be beginning my full-time employment at the Cason Group in downtown Columbia as their business admin assistant. I am thoroughly excited to start this journey and see what God has in store for me at this organization. 

With record enrollment in 2020, CIU 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. Request information on enrollment at CIU and Columbia Biblical Seminary at (800) 777-2227, ext. 5024 or www.ciu.edu.