My name is Sarah Howell, and I am a senior at the University of Tennessee pursuing a dual degree in Architecture and Civil Engineering.  I graduated with a Bachelor of Architecture in May 2013.  I am now finishing my studies in Civil Engineering, with concentrations in structures and transportation, and will graduate in May 2014.

Throughout my time at the University of Tennessee, I have enjoyed being involved in both the College of Architecture and Design and the College of Engineering.  In addition, during the past two summers, I have gained internship experience in an engineering department at Walt Disney World in Orlando, Fl.  This involvement has provided me with a variety of experiences in both architecture and civil engineering.  My involvement and accomplishments are:

• During my third, fourth, and fifth years as a student in the College of Architecture and Design, I was an active participant in Freedom By Design, including serving as a Co-Captain for two years.  The goal of this organization is to utilize skills gained in architecture school to design and build simple modifications in the homes of low income or elderly disabled individuals.  As Co-Captain, I worked closely with the clients, assisted in the design process, and helped organize build days for the projects.
• During the summer of 2012, I had an internship with the Resort Development and Integration department at Walt Disney World.  I spent most of my time on site during the final stages of construction of a new resort hotel.  I collaborated closely with contractors, subcontractors, and the creative department in assisting in post construction inspections and punch lists to prepare for the opening of this resort.
• During the summer of 2013, I was an intern with the same engineering department at Walt Disney World and was involved with the redesign of Downtown Disney, an area of restaurants, retail spaces, and entertainment.  I collaborated very closely with the architects, civil engineers, and other subcontractors during the schematic design, as well as the legal team negotiating lease agreements with future tenants of these spaces.  I was involved with a variety of different projects ranging from the master planning of the different sections of Downtown Disney to the design and site preparation of individual restaurants.
• This fall, I joined the University of Tennessee American Society of Civil Engineers Conference Steel Bridge Team.  I have been involved with the structural design, modeling, and now the construction of the bridge members.  In March, I will compete with the team in the Steel Bridge Competition at the ASCE Southeast Student Conference. 

I believe my active involvement in the College of Architecture and Design and the College of Engineering, along with my internship experiences, have prepared me to be successful candidate for a position as an intern architect.