The LCU College of Business is blessed to have students from all over the United States and the world. While a majority of our students are still from Texas, we are broadening our reach to attract students who would not normally consider moving to West Texas. Below we introduce you to Veronica Khadzhi and Alfons Raawall. Veronica is a senior management major from Nashville, TN, and Alfons is a junior from Göteborg, Sweden majoring in economics. These two students exemplify the type of students that make LCU the great university that it is.
Veronica Khadzhi, Senior Management Major
Why did you choose to attend LCU?
Choosing LCU was a difficult and last-minute decision, but it was the best decision I've ever made. As someone from Tennessee, moving 15 hours away to Texas was a huge leap of faith, but I knew it would challenge me to grow. Out of every college I visited, LCU stood out because of how welcomed, valued, and supported I felt. My father is also someone who was fully confident in me becoming a student here, and that mattered a lot to me. When professors and staff prayed over me during my visit, I knew this was where the Lord wanted me to be, and I could not imagine being anywhere else.
What has been the most rewarding part of LCU college life?
The most rewarding part of LCU has been the relationships. Professors and staff care about you as a person, not just as a student, and they’re always willing to walk alongside you through this journey we call life. Knowing I can share struggles, receive encouragement, and even be prayed over has made LCU feel like a second family. That sense of community is something I’ll carry with me long after graduation.
What has been the most challenging part of LCU college life?
Being 15 hours away from home has been the most challenging part of my college experience. Missing family and not being able to simply go home for a weekend has required a lot of adjustment. However, I give a huge shout-out to the professors and staff who took me in when I couldn’t go home. There were also seasons, especially during my freshman year, when I wrestled with my faith and personal growth. Looking back now, those challenges shaped me into a stronger and more confident person as I prepare to enter my senior year.
What has been the most impactful class you have taken in the College of Business?
The most impactful class I’ve taken is Faith in Business with Professor Matt Bumstead. The course showed me that faith and business are not separate parts of life. They should work together. I learned practical ways to lead with integrity, live out my faith in the workplace, and make decisions grounded in biblical principles. It changed the way I view both my career and my calling.
What are your plans after graduation?
After graduation, I plan to begin my career in the business world. My time at LCU has opened my eyes to many different opportunities, so I’m still exploring exactly where the Lord is leading me. While I don’t have every detail figured out, I am excited to use the skills and experiences I’ve gained to make an impact wherever I go. I also hope to one day give back to LCU and invest in future students the way so many people here have invested in me-in whatever way the Lord wants me to do that.
What are three things on your bucket list?
One of my biggest goals is to go on a mission trip. I want to experience a culture and lifestyle different than my own. I believe great growth happens when we serve others and bear witness to people whose lives look different than ours. I would also love to see the northern lights in Norway, which has been a dream of mine for years. For something random, I’d love to take surfing lessons with my family—learning a new skill outside my comfort zone.
What would you like to say to anyone reading this about your experience at LCU and the College of Business?
LCU is a place where people genuinely invest in your success, both personally and professionally. The professors and staff care deeply about students and are committed to helping us become the people the Lord created us to be. Within the College of Business, leaders like Dean Mack and Rose Johnson have encouraged, challenged, and supported me throughout my journey. The relationships I’ve built here are one of the greatest blessings of my college experience.
Alfons Raawall, Senior Economics Major
Why did you choose to attend LCU?
When I first attended LCU, the main reason was to run track and cross country here. Coming from Sweden, I knew very little about the school or the city of Lubbock, and I did not have a chance to visit before I started my first semester. All I knew was that I preferred a smaller, Christian university, where I could be challenged academically alongside my athletic pursuits. I now consider it a great blessing that the opportunity to attend LCU arose when it did.
What has been the most rewarding part of LCU college life?
Once again drawing on my background as an international student, there are a lot of uncertainties when moving to a city in northwest Texas. But the fact that I have always felt welcomed and appreciated by students and faculty has been incredibly rewarding. It made it easier to adjust living so far from home, but most importantly it has inspired me and caused me to reflect on how I extend the same welcome to others around me and how we all can show God's love to others in our daily lives.
What has been the most challenging part of LCU college life?
Being a student-athlete in college is tough, especially when you are dedicated to both roles. I have attempted to make full use of the student experience offered at the College of Business, such as active participation in the student investment group, and putting my best effort in at all times, which can be demanding but also rewarding.
What has been the most impactful class you have taken in the College of Business?
I believe healthcare economics is the most impactful class I have taken. The field of economics might seem very theoretical and abstract at first, but this course showed me how the concepts taught in economics can be put to use in a way that actually impacts people.
What are your plans after graduation?
After graduating from LCU, I plan to continue my education in graduate school and pursue a master's degree in economics. After that, only the Lord knows what I have ahead of me.
What are three things on your bucket list?
I would like to watch a soccer game on every continent. In addition, one of my goals is to do a "Swedish classic" (cross country skiing 90 km, swim 2 km, bike 400 km and run 30km). Lastly, I would like to write and publish a book.
What would you like to say to anyone reading this about your experience at LCU and the College of Business?
The College of Business at LCU is a great place to grow if you put a little bit of effort into it. As an incoming freshman, you might think you know more about your interests and your skills than you actually do. I would challenge you to take a few minutes after a class and discuss a topic that interested you with your professor, attend a SIG event, or come up and talk with an upperclassman. It might feel like an obstacle at first, but you might find out something fascinating about others, or even yourself.