Author Archives: Sona Chudamani

Welcome Cohorts 43 and 44!

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It is now April, and you know what that means: QUEST has just accepted a new batch of students as members of Cohort 43 and 44! This year, QUEST received its highest number of applicants yet with over 450 applications submitted. Although we will miss our amazing seniors graduating this semester, QUEST is so happy to welcome in its new members. I reached out to a couple of new QUESTees to talk about their experience with the application process, their interest in QUEST, as well as some upcoming events and activities that they are looking forward to. 

To start off, I spoke with Eric Ji, a computer science major accepted into Cohort 43. He had initially heard about the program through word of mouth, but once he went to the interest meeting, he was officially sold. “I was blown away after actually hearing current members talk about their experiences and all the cool projects you get to do, so that’s when I knew I was applying.” Furthermore, Ji found the entire application process to be “unlike anything he had applied to before.” He says, “The questions really push applicants in a way other programs usually wouldn’t.” He also found the interview process to be fun and motivating.

Eric Ji of Cohort 43

Another equally enthusiastic QUEST student shared some similar thoughts regarding the program. Bhavini Pandey, also a computer science major in Cohort 43, said, “I’m most excited to be a part of a community that is not solely CS students.” Pandey went to an engineering high school and has always been surrounded by students in STEM, so she is thrilled to get a chance to meet people outside of her field. More than that, Pandey is also excited to get involved within QUEST by joining QUEST Corporate in the future. Until then, Pandey plans to have a relaxing summer and go ziplining, which is one of her favorite hobbies. If she could give any advice to freshmen, she says, “It’s so important to do things you are truly interested in and passionate about. It took me a long time to realize that I liked computer science over mechanical engineering, and even within the field there are so many options for what I could do. Explore your options!” 

Bhavini Pandey of Cohort 43

Lastly, I reached out to Ethan Zhang, another new member of Cohort 43. Zhang had heard about the program through his older brother, Eric Zhang of Cohort 31, and knew he wanted to get involved. Zhang is most looking forward to learning more professional skills and meeting new people. “Everyone I have met so far is so impressive. They all seem really qualified, and I’m so excited to be surrounded by such ambitious people!”

Everyone in Cohorts 43 and 44 is encouraged to attend the upcoming ice cream social event hosted by QUEST Social, which is on April 26th! This is a great way to kickstart some bonding by getting a chance to know other QUESTees. We can’t wait to get to know you, Cohorts 43 and 44. Welcome to the program!

QUEST Alumni and Their Journeys to Success

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One thing about QUEST students – we are all overachievers, both in and out of college! Two QUEST alumni were even included in the Terrapin Club 30 Under 30 Class of 2024 for having a major impact in their communities and careers while supporting the university and embodying Maryland Pride. I was able to connect with them about their journeys through college and where they ended up.

Bradley Polkowitz of Cohort 35 is a 2023 alumnus who majored in OMBA and Marketing. During his freshman year of college, he heard about QUEST through a member of Cohort 29 (David Rosenstein) and was instantly sold. He was especially excited since some friends were also applying with him. Polkowitz was interested in expanding his network and diversifying his skill set through hands-on learning, which is a main pillar of QUEST. During his time at UMD, Polkowitz was a busy man! He was the Founder of the Sports Management Program, Co-Founder and President of the Maryland Sports Business Conference, and President of the Sports Business Society. After graduation, Polkowitz ended up at the National Football League (NFL) where he is currently working as a League Sports Betting Analyst in their Rotational Program. When asked about his journey so far, Polkowitz said: “The most exciting part of my career thus far has been the impact I have had in the sports industry at both UMD and the NFL. Although I just graduated, I have left a lasting impression at UMD and played a pivotal role in growing the sports community on campus. It brings me so much joy seeing my friends and peers succeed in the sports industry. Similarly, with the NFL, it is so exciting to be around the game and learn from industry leaders. I am humbled and honored to have an opportunity to work for the NFL and mentor my peers along the way.”

Polkowitz and his BMGT490H team during the Cohort 35 QUEST Conference

Avi Kozlowski of Cohort 24 is a 2017 alumnus who majored in Finance and Accounting. His inspiration for joining QUEST was his older brother, who was also in the program and spoke highly of his experience. During his time at UMD, Kozlowski was involved with many clubs, including TAMID Investment Club, Hinman CEOS (Temporary) Business Honors, DUNK, UMD Hillel, UMD Chabad, and Real Estate Club. After graduating, Kozlowski began working at Greystone as a Production Analyst, where he has stayed for the last 7 years and risen to Managing Director and Loan Originator. When asked about his professional journey over the last 7 years, Kozlowski said this: “I’ve hit that turning point where I know the ins and outs of the debt financing industry and I’m able to help clients with their current debt structure and business plans, as well as guide them towards the best product for their needs.” In 2023 alone, Kozlowski orchestrated the financing of 76 loans totaling to approximately $1.2 billion, underscoring his unwavering commitment to excellence and substantial contributions to the real estate finance landscape.

We at QUESTPress want to give a huge round of applause to these amazing QUEST alumni for all they have achieved thus far. We cannot wait to see who joins the Terrapin Club 30 Under 30 Class of 2025!

Welcome Back to QUEST, Dr. Fox Troilo: Our Newest 190H Instructor

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This semester, Cohort 9 QUEST alumnus Dr. Fox Troilo is making his return to the University of Maryland to be the newest BMGT/ENES190H instructor! He is co-teaching the QUEST introductory course with Dr. Ben Huffman. I had the opportunity to chat with him about his past experiences and life post-college, as well as his reason for returning.

Dr. Fox Troilo

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QUEST’s Halloween Extravaganza: Costumes, Competitions, and Community Giving

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The candy bowls may be empty and jack-o’-lanterns may have flickered out, but the echoes of Halloween’s mischief and merriment linger on. As we all pack up our costumes for another year, it’s time to look back on some of the fun QUEST students had, both through class competitions and giving back to the community.

BMGT190 students on Halloween!

BMGT 190H students on Halloween!

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QUEST Alumni Panel Sheds Light on Tech Careers

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QUESTech, one of our seven student organizations, hosted a successful Alumni Panel on November 9th, 2023, featuring alumni from multiple technology specialties – Software Engineering (SWE), Product Management (PM), Data, and Engineering. Around twenty five students attended this hybrid event, which took place over multiple rooms, both in person and through Zoom, so students could move from room to room and explore several fields.

In the SWE room, there were four alumni. John McGahagan (Cohort 16), Ilan Gold (Cohort 22), Sophia Khezri (Cohort 32), and Ben Lin (Cohort 33) gave advice to current QUESTees on searching for internships and full-time positions at major software companies. Some advice included not putting too much pressure on your first job as it is only a small part of your career journey. Also, a quick fun fact: Ilan Gold shared that he was a founding member of QUEST Corporate!

In the PM room, alumni Andrew Lee (Cohort 23), Adam Sarsony (Cohort 29), Jacqueline Deprey (Cohort 30), and Kartik Krishnan (Cohort 31) shared their experiences in the industry. Krishnan mentioned the wide variety of work he does as a product manager at Microsoft. Currently, he is working on a project to update the Microsoft taskbar, located on the top of all Microsoft products!

In the Data room, Alia Abdelkader (Cohort 27) shared her experience working in the Congressional Budget Office. She plans on working there for a bit, as she is extremely passionate about the tax policy she works on. Abdelkader is considering a PhD in the future, possibly in public policy!

In the final room, Engineering, Joe Dadzie (Cohort 23) and Charles Grody (Cohort 29) discussed their work experiences in chemical engineering and manufacturing. Dadzie mentioned how he is ready to move back to his lab coat and work hands-on in his new project engineering role at ASR Group.

Samantha Taskale, Cohort 38 student and one of the co-leads for QUESTech, reflected, “The QUESTech alumni panel event was an amazing opportunity for QUEST students to explore possible career paths and build connections with our alumni network. We are very grateful for the alumni who took time out of their schedule to speak to the students and answer all of their questions.”

Building Bridges to Success: QUEST Corporate’s 9th Annual Networking Event

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With impeccable timing, as always, QUEST Corporate hosted its 9th Annual Networking Event, right in the midst of recruiting season. On September 20th, with 33 companies and over 150 students in attendance, students had the opportunity to engage with recruiters and other professionals to expand their networks for securing internships, jobs, and more. Many QUEST alumni also had the chance to return and connect with current students, witnessing how the program has evolved since their graduation.

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Studying Abroad in Style in Spain

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College is the time to try new things, whether that’s learning to cook or traveling to a new country. This month, I talked to two QUEST students who both chose to study abroad in the lovely city of Madrid, Spain for the semester! Both Bioengineering majors in Cohort 38 studying at Universidad Carlos III de Madrid, Fiona Sheridan and Hannah Lee had nothing but amazing things to say about their experiences so far.

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