Blinn history graduate will attend Charles University in Prague this fall

Czech language courses led Lukas Collins to historic destination

May 6, 2026

Blinn College student Lukas Collins will be attending one of the world’s oldest and most prestigious universities in the world as he continues his education.

Collins, who graduates this spring with an Associate of Arts in History, has been accepted to Charles University in Prague, Czech Republic. He will begin classes there this fall, studying history with an emphasis on Central Europe.

Charles University, founded in 1348, is the largest university in the Czech Republic. It consistently ranks among the top universities in the world, attracting thousands of students from more than 140 countries.

Collins’ journey to Charles University began when he took Czech language classes online offered by the Blinn College-Schulenburg Campus (his other classes were on the Brenham Campus). Those classes triggered Collins’ deep appreciation of the Czech language, history, and culture.

“With history, I think it’s really important to get a different perspective,” he said. “I’m excited about the move and been getting my visa worked out.”

Collins’ classes at Charles University will be in English initially, but he hopes to transition to courses in Czech.

“I’m not confident enough in my Czech, but I’m hoping that I can get good enough,” he said.

Thadious Polasek, who taught Collins in his Czech language course, said he expects him to thrive at Charles University. Polasek is president of the Czech Ex-Students Association of Texas and has led cultural trips to the Czech Republic.

“Lukas Collins is a joy to have in class,” said Polasek. “The impressive work he does for class demonstrates his interest in Czech culture, history, language, and people. Lukas is a gifted individual with an ability to learn and apply knowledge quickly, and he will do great things in the near future. I know he will excel in his studies at Charles University.”

Collins, who is from the Houston area, said that applying to Charles University wasn’t difficult and the school is surprisingly affordable.

“It wasn’t that hard to apply,” Collins said. “I went to their website, applied, and was accepted. It was no different than applying to a university like the University of Houston. One of the things that really encouraged me to enroll was that when I compared it to the University of Houston, it’s still almost cheaper to go there.”

Dr. Becky Garlick, Executive Dean of the Schulenburg Campus, said Collins is an example of how a single class can inspire a student.

“We are proud to celebrate the accomplishments of Lukas Collins, whose educational journey reflects the transformative power of learning and global opportunity,” Garlick said. “His experience in Czech language classes sparked a deep passion for the language and culture, opening the door to exciting new possibilities. Lukas’s story is an inspiring reminder that a single class can ignite curiosity, shape dreams, and lead to life-changing opportunities around the world.”

Blinn is one of only two higher education institutions in Texas that offer Czech language classes for college credit and continuing education, providing students with a unique opportunity to explore the language’s grammar, vocabulary, and pronunciation online. For more information, visit www.blinn.edu/czech.