Prior to coming to Concordia University, Nebraska freshman Emma Fiala lived in Herculaneum,
Missouri, for 11 years, but she calls Brezno, Slovakia, home. She is majoring in secondary
education with an endorsement in mathematics, minoring in physics and earning a Lutheran
Teacher Diploma (LTD). She is in the university’s Luke Scholars honors
program, Cantamus women’s choir, Mixed Chorus and does technical crew lighting for the
university’s theater program.

“I am primarily interested in the church work programs,” she said “My parents, David ‘99 and
Radka ‘05, graduated from Concordia and my older brother Vaclav is a sophomore here currently.
I chose Concordia because I was looking for faith-based community where I could further my
education from a Christian worldview and become better acquainted with my Creator in studying
his creation.

She said she appreciates the university’s Christ-centered focus.
“We find our identity and our value not in ourselves but in the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. Everything
we do then—worship, studies, arts, sports, music—we do by His grace and to His praise, honoring
the vocations He has given us and Him whose image we are created in,” she said. “Recognizing
God as the Creator of the universe, studying mathematics becomes more than merely seeking to
understand the laws that govern the world around us: it gives us a glimpse into the precise, orderly
mind of our God as displayed in his Creation. We can see evidence of His desire to know us and
for us to know Him in that He has created us with cognitive functions and creativity required to
pursue and comprehend mathematics.”

Since Fiala’s parents are university alumni, she has always heard a lot about the university from
them, she said.“

I was very strongly encouraged to attend the historic ‘teacher’s college’ to earn my LTD,” she said.

She said her first months at the university have been filled with beautiful worship services, building meaningful friendships, wonderful music rehearsals and much more. “I have made some incredible friendships in the past nine weeks. I love attending chapel every day. Hearing the doxology in four-part harmony never gets old!” she said. “I have thoroughly enjoyed rehearsing and performing with both Cantamus and Mixed Chorus. I have also come to understand my vocation as a student through my Luke Scholars course, which has confirmed my conviction that I am exactly where I need to be right now.”

She said her professors have demonstrated Christian leadership in her classrooms, too.

“Since I want to be a Lutheran school teacher, I appreciate having their example to follow,” she
said. “I look back on all the relationships I’ve developed with my teachers in the past and the
relationships I’m developing with my professors now, and I think to myself that by God’s grace and
guidance, I want to be this kind of encouraging, influential person for young people in the future.”
She said she is grateful for the faith formation that she is receiving in all aspects of her university
experience.

“I’m incredibly grateful to start my adult life in an environment where I am surrounded by Christians
and daily reminded of my identity as a baptized and forgiven child of God through theology
classes, chapel or one-on-one conversations with friends or professors,” she said. “I’ve heard
really great things about the education program. I look forward to continuing to study math from a
distinctly Christian perspective and to share this perspective with my own students someday.”
She said she also appreciated the ample opportunities for Bible study and fellowship on campus.

“Every night I ask my friends if we have any plans, and nearly every night, they say we’re going to
this Bible study or that Bible study. I love having the opportunity to spend so much time in the
Word,” she said. “I’m learning tons. Many of my professors also incorporate faith into the
curriculum, some in greater ways than others. Everywhere I turn on campus, I’m met with an
opportunity to get to know my God a little better. I began taking ownership of my faith in high
school, and I’m so blessed to be in a community that encourages me to continue to do so.”
Fiala’s father holds both the indoor and outdoor high jump records for the Concordia Bulldogs. He
now serves as a mission advocate for The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod.

“Both my older brother and I were born overseas when our family served as missionaries in
Slovakia,” said Fiala. “My big brother Vaclav is currently a student at Concordia. He is majoring
in art education and minoring in English. I also have two siblings: eleven-year-old twins Helen and
Jonathan.”

Following graduation, Fiala would like to teach math at a Lutheran school.
“I would like to show my students what their Creator reveals about himself in mathematics, not
merely teaching them how to manipulate equations and solve variables,” she said. “Don’t get me
wrong—solving equations is great for many things including cognitive development and learning
logical thinking skills. But as Christians we have the blessing of knowing that we do not pursue
disciplines purely for the sake of the discipline.”

Concordia University/Nebraska is a faithful partner of The Bolick Foundation