Category Archives: QUEST News

Doing Good in Our Communities

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Whether you open up the New York Times, turn on CNN, or listen to a podcast, the common theme, obviously, is coronavirus. While we are all social distancing in our homes to avoid catching and spreading this virus, it seems as if we cannot escape it. Yes, we may not all fall ill to this virus – but every time I turn on my TV, phone, or computer, I am overwhelmed by the rapidly increasing COVID-19 cases, overwhelmed by the rising death rate, and overwhelmed by the sheer amount of information constantly streamed. During this time – while so many of us are scared, if not for ourselves than for our at-risk friends and family members, it is so important to thank those who are risking their lives or doing good for their communities! In fact, we have a few members of the QUEST community who have been working hard to #dogood for their communities.

An example of the face shields that Aditi and her family are assembling

Aditi Balachandran, a Cohort 31 Finance and Operations Management & Business Analytics major, is working alongside her family to “put together the plastic face shield that hospital workers use to cover their full face over the masks.” When asked how she got involved in this, Aditi explained that her “friend’s father owns a manufacturing company that he converted into a shield production factory during COVID-19. So, my family and I have been buying the shields from him, putting them together, and donating the shields. We have also been securing other PPE to donate as well. We have donated over 2,400 shields already and are going to be giving another 500 tomorrow! Our medical professionals are the true heroes, and we wanted to help in any way we could. They are risking their lives every day, but they do not even have the equipment to go to work safely. My family and I could not stand just being at home without doing something to keep them safe.” Aditi and her family are donating the masks as well as the PPE straight to the hospitals. “We are in contact with many different hospitals within New Jersey, and we also just donated some to the local EMTs and police force.” If you would like to help Aditi and her family procure more shields to help keep our heroes safe, you can donate to her GoFundMe cause at ter.ps/SFH.  Even a donation of $5 can help one hero!

Aditi (right) packaging face shields with her family

David Rosenstein, a Cohort 29 Marketing major and incoming LinkedIn Business Leadership Program Global Sales Associate, has directly helped our QUEST community during this time by conducting a free professional LinkedIn webinar to help improve students’ LinkedIn pages. According to Expanded Ramblings, 94% of recruiters use LinkedIn to vet candidates. Therefore, David hoped this webinar would help the QUEST community continue to secure new jobs during the economic downturn caused by the coronavirus. David said, “When QUEST reached out and asked if I wanted to do a professional webinar, I felt so motivated by others in QUEST who have rallied together to build out a strong community and keep everyone together. Seeing those in my community who are willing to go out and offer services or donate to charities has been so inspirational for me and has helped me to stay motivated to contribute to others. I hope this attitude of giving and unconditional empathy continues within our world. It has helped me to rethink my actions.” David is also offering free LinkedIn consultations during this time. You can sign up here!

David with his LinkedIn mug

QUEST alumnus Sahil Rahman (Cohort 17), owner of the Indian restaurant RASA in Washington, D.C., decided to give back during this time by providing free take-out meals for both school children who rely on the schools for their daily meals and hospital workers. Although restaurant businesses are suffering, RASA found a way to open its doors to its community during these challenging times. If you want to read more about how Sahil and the RASA team have been giving back to the community, click here.

Sahil (left) with the co-founder of RASA, Rahul Vinod

Thank you Aditi, David, Sahil, and everyone else who has been helping to give back and do good in our community. The work you do to help others is inspirational and a reminder that every person’s actions counts.

Welcome, Cohorts 35 and 36!

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Only a few days ago, the Quality Guild officially announced the ninety new students who will be joining QUEST and beginning their coursework next year! So QUEST community, say hello to Cohorts 35 and 36! Cohorts 35 and 36 make up the most diverse QUEST class ever before, and I know I speak for the QUESTPress team when I say that we are so excited for these new cohorts to begin their time in QUEST and experience the diversity, innovation, and complexity that makes QUEST such an exceptionally rewarding community to belong to. So, as we traditionally do here at QUESTPress, I reached out to a few new cohort members to ask them what they are most excited about!

Ryan Sweren, an Accounting and Finance major of Cohort 35, is “excited about getting to know the other members of my cohort and building a strong social and professional network. I’ve heard only great things about the individuals in the program, so I cannot wait to get started!”

Ryan Sweren, Cohort 35

Sherry Liang, a Computer Engineering major of Cohort 35, joined QUEST because she knows “it will help me develop real-world experience in both identifying and solving problems within a tight-knit community with similar values. I applied for QUEST because I wanted to expand my major. I’m drawn to QUEST’s multidisciplinary curriculum because I will have the chance to also see the business aspect of a product – how the product can be marketed and distributed. I’m particularly excited for ENES489Q because I’ve always been fascinated by the innovation behind Silicon Valley.”

Nick Bailey, an Operations Management & Business Analytics major of Cohort 35, is “so excited to join QUEST and to meet everyone! I feel like this is a once in a lifetime opportunity, and I am so fortunate to be a part of this fantastic program.”

Nick Bailey, Cohort 35

Alpha Bah, a Mechanical Engineering major of Cohort 36, says that he’s “most excited to work with an array of different people on various projects that have real impact and learn new skills that will help me in the future. Plus, I think it’s great to be able to meet and surround myself with other people who are ambitious and hardworking.”

Alpha Bah, Cohort 36

Lastly, Jeremiah Samuel, an International Business and Marketing major of Cohort 36, said, “I knew about QUEST before I even came to UMD and becoming a part of the QUEST crew feels like my hard work finally paid off!”

Good luck Cohorts 35 and 36, and welcome to QUEST!

Opinion: To the Class of 2020

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A week ago, my sister sent me a short article that said “Dear Class of 2020, you entered the world during 9/11. You graduate during a pandemic.” My class will not be remembered as the Class of 2020, but as the Class of COVID-19. We will go down in history books as the only class that did not conventionally graduate. In two months, we were supposed to graduate side by side; instead, we will be isolating in our homes. In two months, we were supposed to hug and congratulate each other; instead, we are afraid to even be around one another.

But, the rest of the article read “No doubt these events will shape you. You see beyond borders. You savor the good. You relish healthy lifestyle habits. The celebrations may need to wait. And you are okay with that. We are proud of you.” This message did not really resonate with me, until the night when President Loh officially canceled the rest of the semester’s in-person classes and our Spring 2020 Commencement. While this did not come as a shock to me, it was, and still is, disappointing. However, health comes first. No one could have predicted a virus would shut down the entire world – causing panic and chaos across countries.

So, QUEST Class of 2020, I implore all of us to recognize our fortune – that we had the privilege to be both UMD and QUEST students. We have spent the past three and a half years growing up at UMD, surrounded by the amazing QUEST community. We will miss the classes and friendships that come along with QUEST and the QUEST lab, but the relationships and knowledge we built will supersede our four years of college. Our graduation has to wait because health should and will always come first. But during this time, we need to focus on what we gained from our time in QUEST and recognize that our graduation, or our graduation celebrations, are not what shape our time or ending to college. The relationships we have created, the experiences we have shared, and the opportunities we have built for ourselves should be what we remember and value from our time at UMD. While we cannot hold a communal commencement, each of us should recognize and celebrate our time as QUEST and University of Maryland students.

Best of luck to the Class of 2020, and Go Terps!

Kara Eppel (Cohort 29) is a senior studying Accounting and Information Systems.

Cohort 29 at the Spring 2019 QUEST Conference
Cohort 30 at the Fall 2019 QUEST Conference

QUEST in the City: D.C.

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QUEST students and alumni Sahil Rahman (Cohort 17) and Sameera Polavarapu (Cohort 27) at RASA in D.C.

On Friday, March 6th, QUEST students took a trip into Washington, D.C. to visit and learn from employees (mostly QUEST alumni!) at three innovative corporate sites. An eventful day, QUEST students came home with a wider network, new skills, and fun-filled memories. Thank you QUEST Corporate and representatives from the three sites for a trip to remember! 

The first company QUEST students arrived at was Fjord, the design and innovation consultancy of Accenture. The visit consisted of a welcome activity with QUEST alumnus Russell Lyons (Cohort 16) and a presentation about Fjord’s innovative design process, followed by a question and answer session with several employees. QUEST students then received a tour of the Fjord facility, which as Shefali Gupta from Cohort 33 describes, “was unlike any other office building I’ve ever seen!” Their office had an extremely open layout, allowing employees to work together in teams. Additionally, you could get a sense of their “work hard, play hard” culture, as they had a variety of games (including nerf guns!) out for employee downtime. 

QUEST students and alumnus Russell Lyons (Cohort 16) at the Fjord office in D.C.

The second stop of the day was at IBM, located adjacent to the White House. Students learned about design thinking and participated in an activity familiar to many QUEST students – The “Five Why’s?” The topic in question was also a scenario familiar to QUEST students: “Why do college students fall asleep in class?” Then, QUEST students formed small groups and got to network with various IBM employees, including those in software development, business analytics, and project management. 

QUEST students and alumni Elijah Biggs (Cohort 22) and Alexandra Malek (Cohort 25) at the IBM office in D.C.

The final (and most delicious!) stop of the day was at Rasa, a fast-casual Indian restaurant in Navy Yard. QUEST students got to meet and chat with co-founder and owner Sahil Rahman (Cohort 17) and head of marketing Sameera Polavarapu (Cohort 27) and try some of the delicious food. QUEST students learned about how the QUEST program itself influenced and drove the success of the start-up. Perhaps the most interesting point of discussion was Sahil’s motivation for opening the restaurant: to introduce others to Indian food and make it more accessible and less intimidating with certain ingredients everyone is familiar with. Sahil plans on expanding Rasa into more locations in the coming months.

QUEST students during the employee rotations at IBM

Every student who went on the QUEST in DC trip would agree that each of the company visits proved to be a unique experience, with wider perception gained at every stop. It’s always a rewarding experience to hear about how the insightful lessons we learn in QUEST classrooms are also echoed throughout Fortune-500 companies and start-ups alike. Thank you QUEST Corporate, especially trip lead Jack Curran (Cohort 34), for putting together such a fantastic event!

Tanu Kulkarni (Cohort 34) is a sophomore studying Finance and Operations Management & Business Analytics.

QUEST in the Community: Introducing QUESTServes

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Food recovered after the Maryland-Michigan State men’s basketball game on February 29th

Building, maintaining, and expanding relationships is a major piece of the puzzle behind the success of the QUEST Honors Program. From corporate partnerships to campus organizations, outreach lies at the heart of so much growth and opportunity–and now, a new QUEST organization is lending a hand in the effort! QUESTServes is a student initiative bringing together students from every cohort to enrich the College Park and greater communities through service, leadership, and outreach. The new student organization was started by Cohort 33 students Ryan Gerbes, Tori Miske, Mausam Patel, and Maggie Quinn and kicked off its journey last month by partnering with UMD’s chapter of the Food Recovery Network (FRN). 

QUESTServes and FRN collaborated on February 29th following the Maryland-Michigan State men’s basketball game during a Collection Event at Maryland’s Xfinity Center. They recovered leftover food from concession stands at one of the season’s biggest games. Volunteers were able to collect nearly 30 full units of recovered food, enough to provide well over 75 meals to those in need. After the food left our hands, it was donated to the Christian Life Center, which then redistributed meals to those in need via local food pantries and outreach groups. Moving forward, QUESTServes looks to create a long-term relationship with the Food Recovery Network by hosting a Recovery Event at the conclusion of the QUEST Conference each semester!

Following the recent amendments to the University’s schedule and new policies regarding public gatherings, the remainder of QUESTServes events have been postponed until the fall. But stay excited– the organization hopes to sponsor more FRN Recovery Events and register groups for both College Park Good Neighbor Day and Relay for Life next spring! In the meantime, plenty of events are planned for the fall for everyone interested in giving back–a Terp Thon team will be regularly fundraising throughout the year, leading up to the 12-hour dance marathon next March, with more information coming out regarding events hosted in September, October, and November soon! 

Interested in staying up-to-date on upcoming events and news? Join the QUESTServes Official GroupMe messaging board via this link. 

Have a collaboration or project you want to see happen in our community? Email suggestions to the official QUESTServes email: questservesoffical@gmail.com.

Ryan Gerbes (Cohort 33) is a sophomore studying Mechanical Engineering.

QUEST Explores FinTech at Capital One HQ

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The entire day, all I could think about was that it took just twenty-five years. Twenty-five years of innovation, creativity, and lots of brainpower for Capital One to become a major financial technology firm.

On February 21st, sixteen QUEST students had the opportunity to visit Capital One’s headquarters in McLean, Virginia. The day started with an overview and brief history of Capital One. We then had the chance to catch up with QUEST alumni and meet other Capital One associates. They led a panel and talked about the great aspects of rotational development programs as well as the unique things Capital One has to offer to their associates. From awesome “clubs” and opportunities to connect with leadership to a great cafeteria and gym, Capital One seems like a cool place to be.

Alumnus Eric Ding (Cohort 28) and current QUEST students at Capital One HQ

A highlight for many of the students was a simulation activity that showcased their problem-solving and teamwork skills, and if you’re David Rosenstein (Cohort 29), an amazing ability to draw numerous distribution curves in four minutes. David said, “Doing a simulation that Capital One actually uses in their interviews really made me reflect on just how much I’ve learned about teamwork and communication through QUEST courses. Hearing the recruiter comment on how electrified I got during the activity was a cherry on top of an incredible visit.”

Site visits offer an opportunity for our students to take their learning of an industry or specific corporation to a whole new level. By seeing Capital One’s HQ in person and connecting with associates, we got a true feel for what it would be like working there. 

While talking with Matt Ambrogi (Cohort 27), one of the QUEST alumni at Capital One, I asked what makes him want to take part in something like a site visit with QUEST students. He said, “I think that it’s cool that QUEST gives students opportunities like this. I wish I did more things like it when I was in school. There’s a big difference in having a hypothetical vision of a company and going and talking to everyone. It’s so beneficial!”

We closed out the day with an awesome tour of headquarters. There were spacious conference rooms, standing desks, ping pong tables, cafes, a gym, basketball courts, and many other exciting components to the workspace. 

QUEST students love the opportunity to see and explore different companies and get a chance to see the industries that they could one day end up in is really unique and eye-opening. Thank you to the Capital One recruiters and alumni for an amazing time!

If your company is interested in hosting a site visit for QUEST students, reach out to QUEST Assistant Director Jessica Roffe at jroffe@umd.edu.

Cohort 33 Takes a QUEST to Camp Letts

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Nothing beats the feeling of waking up the day of QUEST camp and excitedly, yet nervously, embarking on the journey to Van Munching. The tradition continues as QUEST’s newest cohort on the block, Q33, recently completed its orientation at the notorious Camp Letts. Though their day began early, students of cohort 33 were eager to get to know one another! The day started with mingling with bus buddies and quickly proceeded to finding out 190H teams… *gasp*

Ropes courses, and dancing, and improv… oh my. Apparently there was even some hypnosis in the mix! The fun-filled day of brainstorming and team-building got students acclimated to what it means to be in the QUEST community. A personal favorite of Sapna Bagalkotkar (Q33) was when her team did low ropes. “We did the activity where we put the tire on the pole, and my team literally lifted me up.” Of course, teams were able to work on their first assignment together – pilot product pitches! Each team collaborated with one another and their mentors to identify problems and create solutions in a fast-paced, but low-risk setting.

Caroline Ward (Q33) emphasized the importance of the team-based pitch, “I had a great time getting to work with my team on our first project. It was nice having a low stakes project just to see how we all functioned together, and it tied the whole purpose of camp together nicely.”

From a mentor perspective, Ankit Sheth (Q29) was excited to be at camp to help members get to know each other and the QUEST program. “QUEST has helped me find my best friends and roommates, and it’s great to see younger students starting those important relationships.“

After some meals together, cohort 33 teams delivered their (technically) first 190H presentations – their team name! Whether it be through a skit or song, there are some quite unique names in this cohort. QUEST Your Luck, QUESTy Crab, and Storm Area 33 are just some of the ones everyone will be hearing throughout 33’s 190H semester!

After more bonding and ideating, teams finalized their product pitches for Day 2. They had two minutes to present and showcase their work to all of the mentors and the Quality Guild! Their first QUEST presentation allowed them to get a feel for what it is like to give a quality presentation. Special shoutout to QUEST Day Ever for winning best pilot product!

After all they experienced together, cohort 33 returned back to campus ready to take on 190H ~ officially ~ as a cohort. With the newfound knowledge, trust and friendships they developed within such a short time, there’s no doubt that they’ll find it only gets better from here. Welcome to QUEST, Q33!

Q29 Takes the QUEST Conference

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On May 9, 2019, Cohort 29 took the stage to present their achievements in 490H, demonstrating mastery of all the skills and talents they have developed during their time in QUEST. The concepts and ideas that are introduced in 190H and expanded upon through each QUEST course really shine through in just viewing each team’s incredible posters.

Team HelloQUEST presents on stage

The evening began with tasteful hors d’oeuvres and mingling as guests were invited to walk around to each team’s poster and get a taste for each project. From there, presentations began simultaneously in two rooms, a fifteen minute showcase of the novel recommendations developed by each team. From team RLA Consulting’s work with Lockheed Martin on “Standardizing the Engineering Rate Setting Process” to team Hello Quest’s work with HelloFresh on “Leveraging Data to Improve Event Selection Strategy,” a huge variety of industries benefitted from the 490H teams’ work this semester.

Our very own editor, Celine Moarkech, worked with Middle River Aircraft Systems for her team’s 490H project and had a lot to say about the experience. “Working with our client throughout the semester was very rewarding! The opportunity to make a real world impact by preventing injuries from happening is extremely exciting especially because we got to see our recommendations through and helped our client plan an implementation strategy.”

Celine (second from left) with her 490H team in front of their poster

There were some special guests at this year’s QUEST Conference. Over the last school year, Cohorts 30 and 31 had the opportunity to work with nine entrepreneurs from across Africa who are part of the YALI Fellows program funded by USADF. A team was paired with each entrepreneur in order to consult and develop recommendations for their startup endeavors, with Q31 teams currently enrolled in 390H building on the work of Q30 teams who took 390H in the fall. The clients ranged from Borena Energy, a solar energy initiative based in South Africa bringing electricity to a village, to Mother’s Delivery Kits, which provides birthing kits to mothers across Nigeria, to Wutiko, a website dedicated to connecting people to opportunities in Senegal. After spending five weeks communicating overseas with the clients, the teams had the unique opportunity to deliver their final recommendations to their clients in person. Currently being enrolled in 390H, I found it to be an amazingly unique experience to have worked on developing solutions in a vividly different environment than in previous projects and really expand my knowledge base in unexpected directions. The recommendations felt a lot more tangible in sitting down and speaking with our clients, some of whom had traveled upwards of 30 hours to be there. It was an incredibly rewarding experience, and the skills both Q30 and Q31 have gained from it will definitely be useful for 490H!

At the conference, 390H students pose with entrepreneur Adjo Asare, who founded Alfie Designs LTD in Ghana

Overall, the QUEST Conference was incredibly successful. Congratulations once again to Cohort 29 for a job well done, and I personally look forward to taking 490H with the rest of Cohort 31 next spring!

All photos from the QUEST Conference can be found here. A portfolio of all spring 2019 projects can be found here. More information on the USADF collaboration can be found here.

QUEST Welcomes Q33 & Q34

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After reviewing 280 applications and interviewing 150+ students this February and March, QUEST welcomed 90 new students to Cohorts 33 and 34! I got a chance to speak with a few of them:

Jack Liang (Q33)

Jack Liang is an aerospace engineering major from Silver Spring. Jack applied to QUEST to branch out of engineering and get to work with people from different majors.

“I’m going to have to learn how to work with and interact with people of different specialties and backgrounds, so why not do it now with an entire cohort of smart, ambitious, and talented people?”

Jack is looking forward to studying abroad and hopes to take BMGT489L: Japan: From Quality Past to Automated Future in his junior year with fellow QUEST students. In his free time, he loves dancing, going to boxing club and sparring with his friends. He is also involved in Theta Tau and currently serves as a Professional Greek Council Representative.

Angela Chien (Q33)

Angela Chien is an incoming member of Cohort 33 majoring in finance and management. Angela wanted to join QUEST because of the great things she heard about it from her friends.

“I like how you form really close friends within this tight-knit environment and learn transferable skills you probably wouldn’t be able to in your other traditional classes.”

Angela is particularly excited for QUEST electives like BMGT408C: Quality Web Development in Business and the study abroad opportunities with QUEST. Angela enjoys traveling and has lived in four different places. Outside of school, she likes binge-watching shows on Netflix and hanging out with her friends. She’s also involved in Sigma Psi Zeta, a sorority on campus, and the Taiwanese American Student Association.

Morgan Hoffman (Q34)

Morgan Hoffman is a mechanical engineering major from Baltimore. Morgan applied to QUEST to get the opportunity to learn and apply business skills to help real companies.

“I’m most looking forward to meeting everyone in my cohort and being able to work and learn with students from outside the engineering school in multidisciplinary teams.”

Morgan likes hiking and spending time outside, especially as the weather gets warmer. Over the summer she is backpacking for 3 weeks in Europe with her roommate. They plan on traveling to 9 different countries. Outside of her engineering classes, Morgan is in Engineering World Health and pledging Theta Tau, a professional engineering fraternity.

Advaith Bantval (Q34)

Advaith Bantval is an incoming member of Cohort 34 majoring in engineering. Advaith applied to QUEST to have the opportunity to work with people of different backgrounds.

“I think there’s a huge benefit in diversity within teams, and that’s the kind of community QUEST nurtures because it adds an extra level of diversity that I wouldn’t otherwise be exposed to in my engineering classes. Through QUEST, I can interact with business and CMNS students too.”

Advaith is looking forward to the teamwork aspect of the classes and getting to work with professional partners. He’s also excited for the study abroad opportunities within QUEST and learning about business and technology in unique environments. Outside of school, Advaith likes hanging out with friends, trying new foods, and listening to music. He has played percussion all his life and enjoys international relations, policy and debate. On campus, he is involved in Theta Tau, Coffeehouse Debate, and Model Congress.

Mina Shahmirzadi (Q34)

Mina Shahmirzadi is a business major from Rockville, Maryland. Mina applied to QUEST because she wanted to find a community of like-minded and motivated students. She also wants to expand her network and interact with people outside of the business school.

“I really want to take the ‘Doing Business in Asia’ elective over one of my winter terms. It seems like a unique opportunity to learn about a new culture while bonding with my QUEST peers.”

Outside of school, Mina likes to play soccer and plays on an intramural team. She is also a member of Alpha Xi Delta, a sorority on campus, and is looking to run for a leadership position within the organization next year.

Congrats to all of our newly admitted QUESTees!

QUEST Students Selected for NewDay USA Leadership Awards

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On March 1, 2019, finalists were chosen for the NewDay USA Student Leadership Awards offered by the Ed Snider Center for Enterprise and Markets in collaboration with NewDay USA. Among the finalists were five QUEST students, two of whom won the first prize in their award category. The awards honor student leaders who make positive contributions to society and distinguish students in one of three categories: Innovation, Enterprise, or Resilience.

From left to right: Michael Khizgilov, Adam Hostetter, Dr. Christina Elson of the Snider Center, David Rosenstein, Eitan Isser, and Jacqueline Deprey

Adam Hostetter (Q29) is a Finance and Operations Management & Business Analytics double major with a minor in Actuarial Mathematics. Adam was awarded the first place Enterprise award for championing collaboration and positive outcomes in teams. He spent his sophomore year working as the student Co-Director at the Snider Undergraduate Research Experience (SURE). He was focused on helping the young program build a strong community and implement program initiatives that would foster co-learning and academic rigor. While brainstorming about his ideas for SURE, Adam drew inspiration from the people in QUEST and its strong sense of community. Adam’s advice to younger cohorts is “never neglect the relationship you have built and keep your communities strong. Sometimes you don’t realize the small things people can do to reshape you or even how much you are impacting and influencing others.”

David Rosenstein (Q29) is a Marketing and Management double major who was also awarded the Enterprise award. David is very involved on campus and can often be seen around Van Munching Hall or in the QUEST Lab. Right now, he is leading a cross-functional team of the Maryland Marketing Association. He is also a campus tour guide, a Smith Ambassador, and involved in Jewish life at UMD. According to David, “QUEST was really pivotal in a lot of ways. It introduced me to a lot of really dynamic people.” He found a key takeaway of QUEST is learning what a perfect team member looks like and how to adapt to different work environments and team dynamics. His advice to younger classes, “For me, what’s been really pivotal in helping to define my leadership style is viewing every leadership role as an opportunity to be a better team member. Whether you’re a team member or the president, it’s important to be egalitarian and be relatable and accessible to everyone on your team.”

Jacqueline Deprey (Q30) is a Computer Science and Operations Management & Business Analytics double major. She was awarded the Enterprise award for her work in the Gemstone Honors program as a financial liaison for a research team. She established relationships with UMD alumni to raise money for a research project which aims to create an augmented reality assistive device to help children with learning disabilities. Not only did she raise enough funding for her project in less than 24 hours, but she set the honors program record for the largest contributed sum in that timeframe. According to Jacqueline, “QUEST taught me the importance of empathizing with the customer and hearing their insights to drive the ideating process.” Her advice to younger cohorts looking to maximize their experience in QUEST is, “soak it all in! QUEST throws a lot at you in a short period of time, but try to absorb everything you can from not only the Quality Guild but also your classmates since you never know what may be applicable to your own life down the line!”

Michael Khizgilov (Q29) is a Finance major who was awarded the first place Resilience award for embodying integrity and a growth mindset. Michael is heavily involved in finance recruiting and mentors freshman and sophomores through the process. He has overcome a number of personal challenges and enjoys having the opportunity to give back to his community and the younger students at UMD by helping them overcome their own challenges. Michael says his experiences have helped him learn how to apply his skills, education, and resilience to various situations outside of the classroom. Through QUEST, he has met a number of other driven individuals and loves the opportunity to work on a team to complete relevant and interesting projects. His advice to underclassmen, “Don’t be afraid of change. College is a very big opportunity to learn and grow personally so take advantage of it and figure out what drives you.”

Eitan Isser (Q32) is a Marketing and Operations Management & Business Analytics double major who was given the Resilience award. On campus, Eitan is a project manager in the consulting track for TAMID, a business club that specializes in consulting for Israeli startups. He also hosts weekly group seminars and study groups on various topics in Jewish studies for Maryland Hillel. Balancing these activities alongside his schoolwork and growth-oriented mindset has helped him develop a stronger sense of resilience. Eitan credits QUEST with giving him access to a network of talented students and experiences that have helped lead him to opportunities such as the NewDay USA award. According to Eitan, “My biggest advice to fellow QUEST members is to really make time on a daily basis to introspect and recognize the immense talent and skill that you have to provide for the world. It really works!”

Congratulations to all the recipients of the New Day USA Student Leadership Awards! We wish them the best in their future careers and look forward to seeing their accomplishments throughout the coming years.