AU That Serves
3 MIN. READ
HOW AN AU STUDENT IS USING HER SKILLS FOR GOOD
Anderson University has cultivated an environment that allows servant leaders to thrive. Christina Ziuchkovski ’24, mechanical engineering major, finds herself constantly leaning into her servanthood through the academic and extracurricular offerings from AU. While Ziuchkovski has a complementary humanitarian engineering major alongside a PACT (peace and conflict transformation) minor, her desire to utilize her career to serve the kingdom wasn’t always a part of her plan.
“In high school I just wanted to be an engineer, make a lot of money, and have a secure life,” said Ziuchkovski. She continued with this mindset well into her junior year of high school. There was a dramatic shift, a shift to which she credits God, “He started to just really work on my heart. My focus was no longer in my own personal goals but more towards the kingdom and how I could use the passions that he placed on my life to further the kingdom.”
Ziuchkovski and her family are from Muncie, Indiana, and she always imagined flying a bit farther from the nest. However, when she learned of AU’s humanitarian engineering program, she redefined her idea of home and relocated to the next town over. AU’s humanitarian engineering major is a complementary major that blends engineering practices, humanitarian studies, business, and ministry.
“I am very passionate about missions work and using the skills that God has given me to help other people.”
Ziuchkovski is especially intrigued by maximizing needed resources in a country or community and utilizing engineering practices to design and develop around those resources so that a community can continue to thrive.
Ziuchkovski’s freshman year was the first year of the university’s offering of the humanitarian engineering program. She credits this “meant-to-be” moment to God. Come May of 2024, she will in be the first class in AU history to graduate with this complementary major.
Ziuchkovski spent her summer months at an internship with Basic Utility Vehicle. This Indianapolis-based business is working to create a simple, low-cost, low-weight vehicle to operate, maintain, and repair throughout the rural parts of Africa. These areas have a low population density and vast distances to cover with terrible road conditions. The goal is to create a vehicle that is safe yet able to overcome the many obstacles in the African bush.
During the school year, Ziuchkovski is part of the AU choir, Center for Public Service, and will be going on a mission trip to Ecuador with the engineering program.
Anderson University is on a mission to educate students for lives of faith and service, offering more than 60 undergraduate majors, 30 three-year degrees, 20 NCAA Division III intercollegiate sports, alongside adult and graduate programs. The private, liberal arts institution is fully accredited and recognized among top colleges for its business, computer science, cybersecurity, dance, engineering, nursing, and teacher education programs. Anderson University was established in 1917 in Anderson, Indiana, by the Church of God.