Sonja Hinish is in her 5th year of study in the Architectural Engineering Program at Penn State University. She will graduate in May 2009 with an integrated Bachelor/Master of Architectural Engineering degree and a Minor in Architectural Studies. She is concentrating her studies in the structures option. During the summer of 2007, Sonja studied abroad in Rome, Italy for eight weeks as part of Penn State’s Sede Di Roma program.

This past summer Sonja interned with Simpson Gumpertz & Heger, Inc., a design and consulting engineering firm specializing in the design, investigation, and rehabilitation of structures. During the previous two years Sonja interned in the Construction and Design Services departments of Penn State’s Office of Physical Plant. Both experiences have furthered Sonja’s interest in the forensic aspect of structural engineering. Sonja passed the FE Exam in October of 2006 and will gain EIT status upon graduation. She plans on pursuing a Professional Engineering license.

During the past four years Sonja was a member of both the Penn State Cross Country and Track and Field teams. She served as captain of both teams in 2007. She was selected to the Academic All-Big Ten Team six times and in 2006 and 2007 she was named to the Division I USTFCCCA Women’s All-Academic Team. Sonja is a member of Tau Beta Pi, the National engineering honor society, and Penn State’s chapter of Phi Alpha Epsilon, which recognizes high scholarship and achievement in architectural engineering. Sonja grew up on a dairy farm in central PA and outside of academics and athletics she enjoys the outdoors, hiking, exercising, and gardening.

Sonja's RESUME