Name: Nikki Stoner

 

Hometown: State College, PA

 

High School: State College Area High School

 

Activities Outside of WEPO: I'm involved with the Society of Women Engineers, as well as the Institute of Industrial Engineers. I also volunteer with Volunteers in Public Schools, where I go to the local high school and tutor students in math and science! I also volunteer with PAWS, a local non-euthanization shelter in Centre County. I help walk dogs and give them their daily dose of love!

 

Internship/Co-Op Experience: This summer I currently have an internship with the U.S. Army. I will be working with the G.E.M.S. program to help teach elementary, middle, and high schools about math, science, engineering, and technology through a hands-on approach. I will also serve as a mentor to the high school mentors and help to design new experiments.

 

Why did you choose to come to Penn State? Growing up in Centre County, I've always loved Penn State. Besides the fact that Penn State is one of the best universities for engineering, I particularly loved the football games, the creamery ice cream, THON and most importantly, I fell in love with the school spirit. I find Penn State's school spirit to be unlike any other schools. No matter what state, or even country you're in, if you see someone with a PSU shirt and yell "WE ARE!", they will reply with a "PENN STATE!". I think it is something extremely unique that brings our university together.

 

What has been your best memory as an engineering student? I think my best memory as an engineering student would be getting the e-mail with my chem 110 final grade. It was my first semester, freshman year and I struggled terribly with chemistry. I was good at it in high school, and I had never found a class so challenging before. I had calculated what I needed in order to pass the class (around a 45%), and I walked out of the exam thinking that I would be retaking the class the next semester. When I opened the e-mail, and saw that I got the grade I needed, I had never been so happy. It made all my hard work seem worth it!

 

What has been your best memory as a Penn State student? I think my best memory as a Penn State student would be watching Penn State win against Michigan in 4OT! Being at the game was beyond thrilling. I was so shocked that we won, I was speechless. At that time, my school pride was through the roof! It's a game that I will never forget.

 

What advice would you give a first-year engineer? Don't give up! Engineering is not easy and everyone has their struggles. It is extremely different from high school, but you will adjust, and you will succeed. A positive attitude and resilience is all that you need!

 

Give me one fun fact about yourself. Before studying abroad, I had never left the United States! I've now visited 9 countries!

 

 

Nikki is a junior studying Industrial Engineering.