Sarah Guynup is an Engineering Designer at LaBella Associates, an international architecture, engineering, environmental and planning firm. Sarah is completing her fire protection and safety engineering technology bachelor’s degree online with Eastern Kentucky University. She recently shared her thoughts about her EKU Online experience.
How has earning this degree changed or aided your career?
Earning my degree will allow me to advance my career. This year I will be able to sit for my EIT (engineer in training) / Fundamentals of Engineering exam. Once I pass that, I will then be able to work my way towards earning my PE license.
What motivated you to get this degree?
When I joined Labella Associates in 2018, I had already had a taste of the construction industry. I had been an HVAC installer for over 10 years and had told myself that someday my name would be on those prints. I had originally gone for my Associates in Mechanical Engineering Technology and that’s what got me in the door at Labella. Well, one day I was allowed to design a small part of a fire protection system, being overseen by a PE. I fell in love with the design of sprinkler systems that day. Instead of going for my bachelor’s in mechanical engineering I changed my direction to fire protection and started looking for online colleges because I was working 40+ hours and had to pay my bills. That’s when I found EKU Online and I am happy with the choice I made.
What was your favorite part or the highlight of your time as an EKU student?
The variety of homework and projects you get to have a hand in was a major part of why I liked my classes. I’m not a big fan of tests and usually am not the best at taking them. With a lot of my classes I have been able to do final projects instead of tests. Just recently I was able to do my own design project as well as fire modeling, which was very fun and informational.
How did the EKU Online faculty aid in your success?
EKU faculty have been very knowledgeable and helpful along the way. Any questions I’ve had I would either send an email or post up in the virtual room on blackboard. Typically the professors have answered right away.
What did you find surprising about the program?
How in depth the program goes. Some of the things I’ve learned I did not even think were going to be a part of the program.
What advice would you give to someone who is looking to become an EKU Online student?
Go for it, you have nothing to lose, and you’ll thank yourself later when you have that degree in your hand.
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