Welcome to Sara J. Schonour's AE Senior Thesis e-Portfolio!
Sara Johnson Schonour
Excited to be finishing her Bachelor's Degree at Penn State, Sara is doing her best to get the most out of her fifth and final year. After spending her second summer in Grand Island, NY at Cannon Design where she interned in the Electrical department, Sara is eager to apply to her last year of courses the electrical and lighting skills she acquired there. She looks forward to the thesis experience she will be immersed in throughout the coming two semesters and hopes to enjoy every remaining moment at University Park.
Sara arrived on the doorstep of 'Dear Old State' five seemingly short years ago and has enjoyed the journey immensely. Immediately embarking on the Architectural Engineering program led her to long and lasting friendships as well as a wealth of applicable knowledge and life skills. State College has quickly become her second home and the she is proud to be a part of the Penn State tradition.
When class is out Sara can be found directing The Pennharmonics, a prominent co-ed A Cappella group on campus. Since her freshman fall semester she has been involved in this group and even had the privilege of singing on Broadway in the finals of the ICCA, a vocal competition. Additionally, Sara is a member of SSAE (Student Society of Architectural Engineers), IES (Illuminating Engineers Society), Harmony and Syllable A Cappella organizational groups, and Campus Crusade. The abundance of activities and opportunities is one of the main reasons she originally chose (and continues to love) PSU.
Although no future is clearly defined, Sara knows that design and music will always be prominent parts of her life. Leaving the Pennsylvania State University with a competent understanding of architectural systems will aid her in her goal of one day designing theatres and their components, and her focus in lighting design will no doubt be an invaluable skill to further this aim. She looks forward to 'the next step' with anticipation, excitement, and only the slightest twinge of trepidation, but always remembers that the best is yet to come.