It’s May in College Park yet again, which means it’s time for QUEST to say goodbye to a couple of cohorts of amazing seniors. Senior year has looked different than we had expected, but QUEST is proud of our seniors for crossing the finish line! I had the opportunity to speak with some of my fellow classmates about their plans after graduation and reminisce about our time in QUEST!
Priscilla (top) with the team of Cohort 33 students she mentored at QUEST Camp in August 2019
Priscilla Lee (Cohort 32) will be finishing her Masters in bioengineering at UMD in the fall and then starting at Accenture Federal Services this winter! What she will miss the most about QUEST is seeing QUEST members around campus! “Everyone’s so involved and it’s so nice seeing people around (or in Zoom rooms). I will miss being part of the undergraduate community but hope to stay a part of the alumni community in the future.”
Priscilla’s favorite QUEST memory: “Gathering in the QUEST lab before classes! There was usually free food laying around to snack on, and it was so nice talking to members of all cohorts, even if it was only for a few minutes!”
Shreyas (center) with his 190H team at their poster presentation in fall 2018
Shreyas Urdhwareshe (Cohort 31) is moving to New York City to work at Facebook as a software engineer! What he will miss the most about QUEST is working with groups of talented individuals with such diverse skill sets on unique, challenging problems.
Shreyas’s favorite QUEST memory: “Working with the Nigerian digital healthcare company MoBicure during 390H and realizing the real value and positive impact my team and I were able to deliver.”
Quinn and Anthony teamed up to participate in the Lockheed Martin Ethics Competition
Anthony Jones (Cohort 31) will be staying here in College Park to pursue his PhD in mechanical engineering at UMD! What he will miss the most about QUEST is Dr. Bailey’s smile.
Anthony’s favorite QUEST memory: “My team’s first site visit at Intralox during 490H. Sam Pearlstein, Derek Safieh, and I decided to go to Royal Taj, which is this fantastic Indian restaurant. I got a free drink from the waiter!”
Quinn Wandalowski (Cohort 31) will be working in the National Air and Space Intelligence Center at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Dayton, Ohio after graduation. What she will miss the most about QUEST is the amazing community! “I’ve met so many great people through QUEST in different majors that I wouldn’t have known. I’m thankful to be a part of such a successful and supportive group.”
Quinn’s favorite QUEST memory: “I really enjoyed working with the YALI fellows in 390H and getting the opportunity to meet them in person to share our recommendations with them.”
Faaiq with his 190H team and mentor during QUEST Camp in January 2019
Faaiq Zarger (Cohort 32) will be starting work in August as a Business Analyst at Capital One in McLean, VA. Before then, he plans to take trips this summer to the Caribbean, Europe (if travel is allowed!), and the Western US with some friends. What he will miss the most about QUEST is stopping by the QUEST lab in between classes and having some amazing conversations!
Faaiq’s favorite QUEST memory: “I still remember sitting around the fireplace at QUEST Camp and talking to Dr. Bailey about my background and interests. That was the first conversation I ever had with him, and it showed me how warm and friendly the QUEST community is. Now over two years later, I can’t be more grateful for that!”
Aditi (right) with Thara Konduri (Cohort 32) at the QUEST Conference in May 2019
Aditi Balachandran (Cohort 31) will be working at RBC Capital Markets as an equity research associate in New York City! What she will miss the most about QUEST is the overall atmosphere. “There is no other program that can connect such different people and create long-lasting relationships. I have made some of my best friends through QUEST, and it is something that I will forever be grateful for.”
Aditi’s favorite QUEST memory: “Driving to the MRAS warehouse with my 490H team. I know it is such a small event in the grand scheme of things, but we were all just jamming out to music and vibing at 6am. It was such a nice bonding moment, and I really treasure it.”
The QUESTPress team at Board & Brew in fall 2019
I guess this is the part of the article where I should mention I am also graduating! I will be starting as an analyst at Accenture Federal Services this fall. I’m so appreciative for the past three years in QUEST, and I am going to miss having the opportunity to interview QUEST students and alumni about their experiences!
My favorite QUEST memory is going to Board and Brew with the QUESTPress team a couple of months before the pandemic. It was such a fun bonding experience! I’m certain the team will be able to have events like that again next year, especially since the staff will be in the amazing hands of Tanu Kulkarni and Heather Bacon from Cohort 34!
Congratulations to all of QUEST’s spring 2021 graduates! We can’t wait to see all of the great achievements you will accomplish. Cohorts 31 and 32 will truly be missed, but always be part of the QUEST community! #theQUESTneverends