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Farewell from the Editors-in-Chief

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Dear QUEST Community and QUESTPress readers, 

As we send out our last issue of the school year, we wanted to write a special farewell and thank you for serving as your QUESTPress co-leads. First, we wanted to thank our dedicated readers. While we enjoy sharing stories about the QUEST community, they don’t deliver impact without the curiosity and support from all of our readers. It warms our hearts when our stories spark conversation in our community. We also appreciate all of the QUESTees that have been featured or interviewed for an issue – your passions inspire us all! 

Tanu Kulkarni (left) and Heather Bacon (right)

Second, we wanted to thank our wonderful QUESTPress staff. This year, we took on an entirely new staff, and they were all so dedicated and willing to learn the second they joined our team. We’ve been proud to watch their writing skills grow as they develop their unique voices. They truly exemplify the qualities of compassion, creativity, and intellectual curiosity that we strive for in the QUEST community. Aside from the articles they write, our staff members have worked to establish a bond over the past year, making our meetings a breath of fresh air. We can’t wait to see how our staff continues to grow, especially under the leadership of our next co-leads, Sona Chudamani (Cohort 37) and Andrew Sien (Cohort 36)! Best of luck! 

We also want to thank our QUEST staff advisor, Jessica Roffe, for all of the support she’s given us this past year. Jess continuously serves as an ear for news within the QUEST community, looking to uplift the accomplishments of both students and alumni. In addition, Jess always makes sure we are putting out the most polished version of our issues by providing edits and suggestions, which is not always an easy task. We also want to thank QUEST’s Program Coordinator Rachel DiDonna for bringing together all of the student organizations’ leaders to ensure collaboration and share best practices. Lastly, we wanted to give a shoutout to the other student organization leaders – you’ve all been a pleasure to work with and we’ll miss you all! 

As our term comes to an end, we wanted to share some of our favorite QUESTPress memories and the impact they’ve had on us. 

Heather Bacon, Cohort 34: 

I joined QUESTPress in the fall of my junior year when Tanu convinced me by telling me how much fun it is. While I was hesitant to join as an upperclassman, the rest of the staff made me feel like I fit right in 🙂 One of my favorite QUESTPress memories was writing my first article about Cohort 12 alumna Amanda Nachman’s new book “Qualified” where she helps young adults realize their full potential and achieve their career goals. You can read the article here! As someone who felt lost about my career path at the time, I felt inspired by her journey and how she’s used that wisdom to help others. Over the years, I’ve found that interviewing alumni has been one of my favorite parts of QUESTPress – there is always so much you can learn through their experiences. In addition to the connections I’ve formed with alumni, bonding with the other student leaders has also been a highlight as a co-lead. I would always look forward to seeing all the student leaders at our monthly meeting. My favorite meeting was when we did a Trader Joe’s potluck!

Tanu Kulkarni, Cohort 34: 

I joined QUESTPress in the fall of my sophomore year before I had even taken the introductory QUEST course (BMGT/ENES190H) after meeting co-leads Celine Moarkech (Cohort 29) and Kara Eppel (Cohort 29) at the QUEST Student Involvement Fair. Though I had no prior writing experience, Celine and Kara had me writing articles off the bat, allowing me to quickly find the fun in writing. QUESTPress was my first taste of the QUEST Community, and I am so grateful for the relationships I’ve formed through it. I’ve interviewed many students, alumni, and faculty throughout my time, and many of these interviewees have become friendly faces who I still keep in touch with. I couldn’t imagine my time at UMD without this fun, creative outlet and the team I worked alongside. Thank you for everything, QUESTPress! 

Though this is our last issue, our chapter with QUESTPress is far from closed. We will always look fondly on the skills we gained and the relationships we formed. QUESTPress has never been a responsibility, but rather an outlet to express creativity and expand beyond our comfort zone. We hope that you all continue to remain curious and engaged within the QUEST community. We’ll miss you all. 

Lots of love, 

Tanu and Heather 

Tanu Kulkarni (left) and Heather Bacon (right)

Alumni Mentorship Program Off To A Strong Start In Year Two

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QUEST Corporate launched a brand new alumni mentorship program last year to overwhelming success. Now in its second iteration, the program pairs current QUEST students with QUEST alumni in a one-on-one mentoring relationship. 

“I LOVE Jess! We’re so similar and had a great first convo 🙂 Thank you for the pairing!” Jules Parra (Cohort 35) wrote in a feedback form after meeting with her new mentor, Jess Prom (Cohort 15), for the first time last month. When Parra and her mentor met, their relationship came so naturally, bonding over their career interests, QUEST experiences, and philanthropy. The hour that they scheduled went by before they knew it, and they were both ecstatic to see each other again. It is one of three meetings that they are required to conduct formally. However, based on their first two meetings, it sounds like this pair will have many more than that.

Jules Parra (Cohort 35)

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Congratulations to QUEST’s December 2021 Graduates

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December is the peak of the holiday season and amongst the excitement, University of Maryland seniors are looking forward to the gift of winter graduation. This winter, QUEST is celebrating 12 talented and successful students who will be beginning their post-undergrad adventure. I spoke to 3 graduates who reflected on their experiences both in QUEST and as students at UMD.

Looking back on their years at the University of Maryland, our graduates shared their fond memories and challenging obstacles. Annabelle Baer of Cohort 32 will walk across the stage this week, receiving degrees in Computer Science and Finance. When asked about her most rewarding time in college, she responded that it was her last semester because she was able to “finally see [her]self being able to solve problems and think about concepts in both of [her] majors in new ways as a result of all the cumulative knowledge over the past four years.” Annabelle also recounted the joys of hosting potluck dinners with friends throughout her years and advises current students to avoid spreading themselves too thin with clubs as she did during her freshman year. When asked about which part of her college career was the most challenging, Annabelle explained that “it was honestly the first few Computer Science required courses. Even though they were intro-level courses, I had never taken Computer Science before and had to figure out an entirely new way to think about new problems. It is really cool looking back now on concepts that used to be so difficult to comprehend but are now second nature after working through the struggle!” Years later, this second nature will show as she begins her job working as a Software Engineer for Goldman Sachs in July. Congratulations, Annabelle! 

Annabelle Baer (Cohort 32)

Dillyn Payne, another Cohort 32 senior, recounts a different struggle: forming a routine and managing her time in the college environment: “Coming from high school, I did not know how to best manage my time or when to stop studying, so it took a while to adjust to this new environment.” However, this quickly changed as Dillyn learned to juggle multiple responsibilities, including QUEST, becoming the president of Theta Tau, and joining the Omicron Delta Kappa Leadership Society, among others. When asked about her favorite memory from QUEST, Dillyn explained that her favorite memory was QUEST formal: “It was so much fun to hang out with everyone in Cohorts 31 and 32 for an evening outside of completing assignments together!” Outside of QUEST, Dillyn’s favorite college memory is when she studied abroad. “I went to Australia in January 2020, right before COVID started. It was amazing to travel to the other side of the world with a group of strangers and be immersed in another country. I enjoyed being independent and challenging myself to get outside of my comfort zone, and I look forward to doing it again in the future sometime soon!” Dillyn will soon get to experience this independence outside of her comfort zone as she begins her role at Northrop Grumman as an Associate Electrical Hardware Engineer in Baltimore. We wish you the best, Dillyn! 

Dillyn Payne (Cohort 32)

The last graduating senior I talked to was Cohort 33’s Varun Singhai. Varun is a Computer Science major who had applied to QUEST because of the “soft skills [he] knew [he’d] gain and wonderful people [he’d] meet.” Both of these held true as soon as he began BMGT 190H, where he recounted all of “the consistent late-night meetings [his] BMGT 190H team would go through and the collective struggle we all got to share!” Aside from class, Varun also explained that it was “valuable seeing the presentation and soft skills [he] learned from QUEST reflect well in [his] internships.” When asked if he could change anything in his college career, Varun recounted, “I wish I could join more organizations outside of school. I think I could have gotten more involved and made more friends as a result. I also advise all current QUEST students to make as many connections as they can and learn as much as they can from the projects; the skills you learn reflect well in the real world.” Varun will continue to have a chance to use these skills as he moves to New York City to work as a Software Engineer for Google. Congratulations, Varun! 

Varun Singhai (Cohort 33)

We would also like to congratulate our additional graduating seniors this winter: 

  • Mutaz Ahmed (Cohort 32), B.S. Mechanical Engineering and Computer Science
  • Vivekjyoti Banerjee (Cohort 34), B.S. Computer Science and Mathematics
  • Aaron Kurtz (Cohort 33), B.S. Finance
  • Alyssa Miller (Cohort 32), B.S. Criminology & Criminal Justice
  • Srivats Narasimhan (Cohort 31), B.S. Computer Science and Finance
  • Don Omeili (Cohort 31), B.S. Electrical Engineering
  • Morelle Tchuindjo (Cohort 31), B.S. Mathematics
  • Siddharaj Vaghela (Cohort 34), B.S. Computer Science
  • Sapna Bagalkotkar (Cohort 33), B.S. Computer Science

The entire QUEST Community is so proud of our twelve graduating seniors and can’t wait to see all the big things you do post-graduation. Stay in touch, we’ll miss you! Congratulations! #theQUESTneverends

QUEST Highlights of the Back-In-Person Semester

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After nearly two years of virtual classes, team meetings, presentations, and posters sessions, QUESTees were thrilled to be back in person this semester. I polled a few QUESTees with the question: “What was YOUR favorite QUEST moment of the semester?” Stories ranged from QUEST Camp memories to the recent BMGT 490H Conference. Read students’ favorite QUEST memories from the semester below!

“Early this semester, QUEST Recruiting had a little Chipotle hang out for us to get to (finally!) see each other in person. It was definitely one of my favorite QUEST moments because I had been working on Zoom with these people for a year and was super excited to finally get to hang out with them in person and overall just have a good time!” – Ishaan Kapur, Cohort 36

“My favorite QUEST memory of the semester was going to the Firefly Music Festival with 6 other members of Q34! We rented a big campsite and spent the weekend seeing a bunch of our favorite artists. It was so much fun spending time outside of the QUEST curriculum, especially because I had the opportunity to bond with 2 other members of my BMGT 490H team” – Kevin Senkus, Cohort 34

Cohort 37 at QUEST Camp

“I really enjoyed getting to bond with my BMGT 190H team during QUEST camp. I remember we did an activity where we wrote our goals on pieces of paper and threw them across a field. We had to find creative ways to carry our teammates across the field to help them pick up their goals, and I think this really brought us together and helped us build a strong friendship within the team!” – Meghana Padmanabhan, Cohort 37

“Early in the semester, I was in the QUEST Lab between classes, and I noticed some Q36 students struggling on a homework for the data class. Since I was the previous TA for the class, I was able to help them out and answer their questions which was super rewarding!” – Amod Mathur, Cohort 33

Former BMGT 190H Group “OktoberQUEST,” now 490H Students, Reunited with Mentor Gina Wingate at the QUEST Conference

“​​My favorite QUEST moment from this semester was during the QUEST conference when my BMGT 190H mentor, Gina Wingate, came back to see us give our capstone presentations. It was particularly rewarding because most of my BMGT 490H team was also on my 190H team, so she could see how we’ve grown through the QUEST program between our rough Circular Design projects and now with our capstones. After she saw all of her mentees present, she gave us homemade gifts with our 190H team name on it. Overall, it was so rewarding to see her and reflect on how much she helped me over the years whether she knew it or not.” – Advaith Bantval, Cohort 34

“I loved presenting our first BMGT 190H presentations. It was rewarding to present what we had put so much hard work into and getting dressed in a suit is always fun :)” – Sami Bouhussein, Cohort 37

“One of my favorite QUEST memories from the semester actually happened about a month before the semester began. About 10 members of Q34 came and spent the weekend at my lake house! We definitely had a lot of cohort bonding swimming, kayaking and boating with lots of water gun fights in between. For sure a weekend of QUEST that I will never forget!” – Jessica Yeager, Cohort 34

“It has been amazing to come back to school and learn alongside all my mentors, friends, and role models. I am so grateful for the QUEST community.” – Aaliya Hussain, Cohort 35

Kayla with fellow QUESTees!

“I have two favorite QUEST moments. The first was experiencing my first QUEST Conference in person. It was a really amazing experience because I was able to see how all of the QUEST classes came together for the BMGT 490H presentations. I also really enjoyed getting to meet all of the other cohorts of QUEST at the conference. My second favorite memory was the many different relationship-building moments that I’ve had related to QUESTees in my life. I live with two QUESTees, and it was always fun to come back to my place to debrief what I learned in class. I also really enjoyed meeting and mentoring my QUEST little who I share a lot in common with!” – Kayla Malone, Cohort 36 

What was your favorite QUEST moment of the semester? Let us know in the comments. The staff at QUESTPress hopes everyone had an enjoyable semester and wishes you all good luck on finals! 

Keeping the QUEST Traditions Alive

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Just like any other family, the QUEST program has several traditions that are passed down from generation to generation (or in our case, from cohort to cohort). Although our traditions may not include baking, fishing, or twelve grapes, they do include every single staff member and student who comes into QUEST. 

Mark Nathanson (Cohort 20)’s 190H Team- QUESTimus Prime

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Sending off our Spring 2021 Seniors

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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!” Continue reading →

How to Stay Involved in QUEST & the Community this Fall

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First of all, happy fall! I hope this season brings you an abundance of pumpkin spice lattes, ridiculous numbers of plaid shirts, and your favorite comfort foods as the leaves turn above us. 

Every change of the seasons, I like to take a step back and reflect a bit–a little personal check in, just to keep myself running on the right track. I ask myself how I’m doing, what I’m doing, why I’m doing what I’m doing the way I’m doing it (wow, that’s a mouthful), and use this as a time to run some maintenance on an (ideally) well-oiled machine. For me, a huge part of that is staying social and involved with the community while stepping away from my work or catching up with friends and family. While these things won’t be as easy as they normally are this fall, there are a ton of opportunities to stay involved and social remotely or while social distancing–here are five of my favorites!

Check out the TWIQ! 

If the TWIQ (This Week in QUEST) newsletter isn’t already on your radar, this awesome Monday afternoon publication is a must-read! Perfect to check out between classes or following an afternoon siesta, the TWIQ is filled to the brim with opportunities for students including news in QUEST, job & internship opportunities, and other relevant opportunities all over the Maryland campus. Crack open your email to find the latest issue–you might just find your next great career step there too!

Wondering what your fellow QUESTees are up to? Check out the QUEST Instagram!

If you like spending time on social media, this one might be for you! This fall will be full of takeovers by QUEST students and alumni; Meet Cohort 35’s Jules Parra in her recent takeover on the QUEST Instagram page! She shares her BMGT190H team’s logo debut, insight on her work with Technica and her recent trip to Ecuador with the Science, experience in the Technology and Society Scholars Program, and more. Keep an eye out for new posts throughout the semester and if you’re interested in taking over the QUEST Instagram, sign up here!

Catch Up with the Quality Guild!

Chat with Dr. Bailey, Dr. Armstrong, Jess, or Rachel no matter where you are! Their office hours are posted in the TWIQ each week, and with the semester underway, they’re open to supporting students in the QUEST community. If you’re on campus and comfortable attending in-person classes, drop by and say hello to the professors while adhering to the 4Maryland Rules and Regulations. 

Cure that Cabin Fever!

Getting outside is a great way to de-stress, and there are plenty of awesome places to visit near and far from College Park. Andrew McNeil from Cohort 33 is the expert here–an avid climber, he’s scouted out some of the best hiking, climbing, and general outdoors spots in the DMV. Some of his top picks include Harper’s Ferry in West Virginia (pictured here) and Great Falls Park near McLean, Virginia, which is about 40 minutes away by car. Some other great spots include Kilgore Falls in Baltimore, MD and Catoctin Mountain Park in Western Maryland. This is the tail end of apple picking season, and peak time of year for pumpkin picking. Both are great ways to enjoy the season, get some fresh air, and support local farmers.

On campus? Here are a couple of College Park ideas too:

Social Distance with Some Fellow QUEST Students on McKeldin

Pull a seat up (or away) and take a load off! McKeldin Mall is beautiful as the weather turns, and the newly placed turtle-shell sections give Terps a safe way to distance themselves while hanging out. Doing homework on McKeldin is a great way to get some fresh air while still pushing through workloads. Set up a hammock and catch some Z’s or bring a blanket for the perfect afternoon lunch!

Support Local Business

Small businesses across the country are looking for support, and the same is true right here in College Park. Looking for a bite to eat? Considering a new haircut? Most businesses in the city are ready to safely serve customers; click the link here for information provided by the city of College Park & businesses all over CP, with some including codes for free deliveries and discounts!

Whether near or far, QUEST is so much more than what’s just in College Park. The good times and memories don’t have to sit still while we’re away from campus; don’t hesitate to reach out to your classmates, form study groups, and stay engaged with QUEST student orgs! Stay safe, take care, and good luck through the fall!


Farewell to QUESTPress

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To our dear QUEST community and loyal QUESTPress readers…

We are so grateful that two years ago, Andrew Jones of Cohort 26 entrusted us with the responsibility to lead QUESTPress. We, Kara and Celine, were just laughing about how we never expected that after just one year as QUESTPress journalists, Andrew would decide to promote us to be co-leads. Originally, the responsibility of keeping the QUEST community informed on current events seemed daunting. However, together we tackled a seemingly overwhelming task. Our experience – indescribable, but let’s try. 

It was definitely a process settling into our new role. We had a vision, but not necessarily an idea on how to execute it. From our first student organization fair until now, we have worked very hard to grow the size and talent of our team and to modernize QUESTPress. From introducing vlogs and TikToks to building in team bonding events, we have grown very attached to QUESTPress and our amazing organization.

When looking back at our time in QUESTPress, we agree that one of our favorite memories is our first meeting this school year. We decided to create teams within QUESTPress to focus on different aspects of the newsletter. For the first time, we were seeing this QUEST organization really act like it was a part of QUEST! To give an idea, our marketing team was creating countless polls and our vlogging team consumed an entire whiteboard while brainstorming ideas. Looking around the room, we were in awe – overwhelmed in the best way possible.

Unfortunately, our last semester as students at the University of Maryland was cut short. Although this caused a colossal shift for QUEST, going against its DNA that calls for in-person meetings and teams, we felt privileged to have the opportunity to keep doing what we do best: report on the happenings of QUEST through QUESTPress, but with a twist. Rather than cover one last QUEST conference or one last BitCamp, instead, we were writing about how to pass time in quarantine and accept our untraditional graduation.

Although we were the “co-leads” of QUESTPress, like anything, it took a village. We want to give a HUGE thank you to Jacob Wilkowsky of Cohort 19, our alumni advisor, for his guidance and support these past two years. Jacob, QUESTPress would absolutely not be what is today without your passion, energy, and insistence to get to personally know each of us. We also want to thank Jess Roffe, our program’s assistant director, for keeping us on track and maintaining the quality of QUESTPress, even in the craziest of times. Jess, your dedication to our organization and insight into all things QUEST have been the driving forces behind our articles. Rachel, QUEST’s program coordinator, has helped us to better lead and manage QUESTPress. Had it not been for your monthly student leader meetings, our stress levels would have been much higher!

We want to give a big thank you to our QUESTPress team! You have supported us from the beginning and made “leading” easy. Your talent shined through every article and without all of you, QUESTPress would not be the organization that it is! We’d like to give a special shout out to our webmaster, Rohan Mishra from Cohort 32. He has worked behind the scenes to make sure that QUESTPress went live each and every time. Rohan led in an area that we had no insight into, and we could not be more grateful for his expertise.

Finally, we want to give a very sincere thank you to the QUEST community. For being the inspiration for all our articles. For the opportunity to get to know you better with every interview. For the support as you opened up and read our newsletter every month. QUESTPress, you have been our outlet for the last three years. A space to write about almost anything and somewhere to be creative amongst an otherwise rigid course load. Thank you.

We put a lot of effort into transforming QUESTPress, but the greatest changes are yet to come. As QUEST continues to grow and innovate, we expect QUESTPress to do the same. We hope to look back in two, five, and even ten years time and see all the changes that have come to QUEST and QUESTPress. We feel very lucky to have a program that makes saying goodbye so hard, but we have no doubt that Christina Giovanazi from Cohort 31 will make an amazing new QUESTPress lead.

Although we are graduating, we are by no means parting ways from QUEST. “The two hardest things to say in life are hello for the first time and goodbye for the last.” Taking on QUESTPress was a challenging but rewarding experience and we cannot believe, or accept, that it is already over. So we won’t accept it. We are excited to serve as alumni and to support anyone and everyone however we can. Just remember, we are a quick message or email away.

So for one last time as students, thank you QUEST! 

Signing off with lots of love,

Kara Eppel and Celine Moarkech (Cohort 29)

Cue Memories by Maroon 5

Reinventing Your Walk to Class During Quarantine

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Am I the only one who thought that I was going to have tons of free time during quarantine only to realize that once online classes started, they can be just as much, if not more, time-consuming than in-person school? During the first week back in classes I was overwhelmed, lost track of time, and felt like due dates were coming out of nowhere.

With thinking about school, I realize one of the things I miss most is my daily walks to class. They were a time to clear my head and take a breath of fresh air. In the pockets of my day that I would be walking to class, I’ve tried to “reinvent” my walk to regain that stress-relieving time. These first couple of weeks were a lot of trial and error but I’ve learned to build in some fun, short activities to make living in the same place where I work, eat, rest, and exercise interesting from time to time.

Avocado Toast from My Mini Cook-Off

Here’s a brief list:

Most of us have seen a Tasty video or cooking show competition. And, we all have to eat. Since being home I’ve had a series of mini cook-offs with my sister where we limit our time and ingredients and see what comes out of it. Here’s our take on avocado toasts:

And for the days where you aren’t feeling like cooking, treat yo’ self to your favorite restaurant’s takeout. It’s a good change for you and supporting our local businesses at this time goes a long way.

Journaling is something we hear is a good habit to develop time and time again. I’ve tried my hand at it a few times but never consistently. With that said, we are living through history – a crazy time, and we may never see anything like it again. Looking back at notes on what you’re feeling now or what the news of the day may have been will be insane. If you’re still not convinced to try it, do it just once by sending your future self an email through this link. Earlier this year, I received an email from my fourteen-year-old self, and it was pretty wild to see how much has changed.

Something I’ve loved during all of this is trying out tons of fitness apps that have provided free access or extended trials. Some of my favorites have been Centr (Chris Hemsworth’s app), Peloton (especially the running workouts), Sculpt Society (for when you need a good dance session), and Orange Theory (daily 40-minute workouts). And for the days that I’m not in the mood for more screen time, a walk outside when the sun comes out has been the best.

Q29 playing games together

When you’re missing your friends and the plain video calls aren’t doing it, combining a Zoom call with some quick online games makes for a fun time! Already, Cohort 29 has joined together to play jackbox, Codenames, and other online card games. When we’ve wanted a break from that, Sasha Miller (from Cohort 29) has coordinated some group TikToks. Check out our most recent one:

Lastly, many of us have a Netflix and chill mode that is buried away during school to avoid distraction but an episode here and there can’t hurt. I’ve mainly stuck to funny shows for some comic relief in a fairly scary time and some docu-series like Inside Bill’s Mind (about Bill Gates). I’ve also been a podcast fiend for a while, and I just discovered that our beloved grocery store, Trader Joe’s (according to a QUEST lab poll) has a podcast of their own! Just about twenty minutes each and perfect for a “walk to class.”

There’s no denying that quarantine has changed our schedules or diminished them completely. But as we settle into what seems to be the new normal for a while, it’s important to have fun and to do things to stay happy.

So, take some time, even as brief as the time it takes to walk between classes.

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!