North Poland to North Idaho: University of Idaho Coeur d’Alene Welcomes Its First International Student
Friday, September 15 2006
Sept. 14, 2006 COEUR D’ALENE, Idaho – Karolina Nakonieczna holds a higher studies diploma from the University of Szczecin, Poland, and is now pursuing a bachelor’s degree in psychology at the University of Idaho Coeur d’Alene. She is making the big transition with much more grace than most of us bring to the simple challenge of pronouncing her name. Nakonieczna transferred to University of Idaho this semester after completing courses in reading, study skills and voice articulation at Spokane Community College. Her degree from Poland is in financial management, but it is her lifelong desire to become a counselor. “I always wanted to study psychology, so I was very happy University of Idaho had a campus here,” she said. Her journey began as many do. “I met a man and we fell in love,” she said. Last year, Nakonieczna met Coeur d’Alene resident Donald Hosford, a professional diver for Global Diving, based in Spokane and Seattle. They were both working in the Gulf of Mexico. She on a ship, he was in the water. Getting a passport from Poland to the U.S. was a complicated process. With that document secured, she arrived in Coeur d’Alene to begin her cultural and academic transition last spring. For international transfers, University of Idaho admissions requires student transcripts in English. Those are provided by translation companies like World Education Services. The companies send an English version directly to the Registrar’s Office, where officials verify the credit value of the degree or coursework. “All countries are different, so we consider each transcript individually, looking at the school, their standards and when they started their secondary education,” said Sherri Brood, transfer credit and eligibility specialist at the University of Idaho. “With all international transcripts, we try to equate it as closely as we can to our structure.” It was determined that Nakonieczna is about two semesters of coursework away from a University of Idaho bachelor’s degree in psychology. As a final step in her initiation into the American academic community, Nakonieczna attended an induction class at University of Idaho Coeur d’Alene designed to ease international students into the classroom and their individual program of study. “It’s been a long, interesting transition, and now things are beginning to come together for her,” said Shirley Hosford, Donald Hosford’s mother. Nakonieczna says culture shock is behind her. Her biggest fear the first week of school was that she might not fully comprehend lectures delivered in English. “Operating in a different language is a challenge,” she said. “I was worried because English is not my first language, but I understood everything.” She is taking five University of Idaho upper division courses: social psychology in the workplace; personality and social development; introduction to diversity and stratification; human sexuality; and her first online course, physiological psychology. Nakonieczna said she likes to talk with her classmates about the coursework, and to make “girly chit-chat.” “Karolina is very outgoing and has met a lot of new friends in school,” said Shirley Hosford. “She also is learning American cooking and always is experimenting with different spices. She likes to watch American movies, with subtitles, to improve her English, which is better than mine,” she laughs. “And she’s found Starbucks.” Nakonieczna has a knack for language acquisition and can read, write and speak four languages. With two weeks of course work now under her belt, she seems to have mastered the intricacies of not only the Queen’s English, but also American idioms. She confesses in a slight but charming accent that her courses are “a big load,” but that even her first Internet course is “completely doable.” She also is eloquent in expressing her gratitude. "I'm grateful for all the love and support I received from my boyfriend, his parents and our friends,” she said. “All this wouldn't be possible without them.” Armed with her dream, a university to help her realize it, friends to support her, and a good cup of American coffee, her transition seems complete, and her journey just begun. Contact: Joni Kirk, University of Idaho Communications, (208) 885-7725; joni@uidaho.edu -30- About the University of Idaho Founded in 1889, the University of Idaho is the state’s flagship higher-education institution and its principal graduate education and research university, bringing insight and innovation to the state, the nation and the world. The only institution in the state earning the prestigious Carnegie Foundation ranking for high research activity, University of Idaho researchers attract more than $100 million in research grants and contracts each year. UI’s student population includes first-generation college students and ethnically diverse scholars. Its high academic performers include 42 National Merit Scholars and a 2006-07 freshmen class with an average high school grade point average of 3.42. Offering more than 150 degree options in 10 colleges, UI combines the strengths of a large university with the intimacy of small learning communities. For information, visit www.uidaho.edu. DE-9/14/06-UICDA
About the University of Idaho
The University of Idaho helps students to succeed and become leaders. Its land-grant mission furthers innovative scholarly and creative research to grow Idaho's economy and serve a statewide community. From its main campus in Moscow, Idaho, to 70 research and academic locations statewide, U-Idaho emphasizes real-world application as part of its student experience. U-Idaho combines the strength of a large university with the intimacy of small learning communities. It is home to the Vandals. For information, visit www.uidaho.edu.