By: Brian Hornak (Q28)
This past December marked QUEST’s 25th QUEST Conference. The event, designed to celebrate the achievements of the hardworking and talented 490H students, served as a fantastic reminder of why QUEST has been so impactful for the last 25 years. To a first semester QUEST student such as myself, the event served as the perfect introduction to QUEST.
As a new student to QUEST, I have had little opportunity to fully grasp the significance and brilliance of the program. Even after joining QUEST and experiencing QUEST Camp, a part of me was still unsure about why QUEST was so special, and why so many QUEST students regard QUEST as the greatest thing that’s happened to them in college. Well, this December’s QUEST Conference put it all in perspective for me.
The conference itself serves as the perfect culmination of everything that makes QUEST unique. It provides students the chance to showcase their talents, their ambitions and their professionalism. As an incoming QUEST student, I had heard a lot about these virtues, but I hadn’t experienced them. Until I went to the QUEST Conference, there was a void in my relationship with QUEST. I had been told a thousand times about how wonderful QUEST was and heard countless students rave about QUEST, but I needed to see it for myself. When I walked into the conference, I didn’t know what to expect. However, upon entering the doors to the ballroom, it became immediately clear that QUEST was every bit as distinguished as I had been told. I was in awe of the tremendous efforts put forth by each team; whether it was their posters, their presentations, or even just the conversations with team members, the level of expertise was evident. It was remarkable to see the capabilities of each team and to hear the passion and fervor in each presentation. This conference once again highlighted why QUEST, and the QUEST community have been inspiring for 25 years!
It wasn’t until the end of the conference that I realized that in a few years, I would be one of the bright young students presenting my team’s project. To think that I would be working on projects as meaningful and fun as this year’s 490H students was both humbling and inspiring. I knew that a hallmark of QUEST courses was their “hands-on” approach to learning, but seeing it first hand made me eager to dive into my QUEST career.
The conference served as the perfect baptism into the QUEST community. While the focus of the evening is on the bright and talented 490H students, it can’t be ignored that the conference serves as more than a showcase of skill. The conference brings together the QUEST community – students, alumni, and corporate partners – to remind us all of what makes QUEST so special. It reminds our alumni of the wonderful years they had in QUEST, it serves as the perfect finale for the 490H students, and it serves as an inspiration for the up and coming QUEST students such as myself. After attending this conference, I’m not surprised to know that QUEST has thrived for the past 25 years. I can’t wait to see what the next 25 bring! PS: Save the Date for this spring’s QUEST Conference: May 4, 2017!