Meet Ume Habiba, a senior who’s helping women break into the tech industry! She’s gained 87,000 followers on Instagram since March and has spoken at multiple tech conferences, including Google’s DevFest, Kode with Klossy’s speaker series, and php[tek]!
We are so excited to be celebrating our QUEST graduates this December! From unforgettable team memories to impressive professional journeys ahead, these students have left their mark on the QUEST community and beyond. This month, I had the opportunity to get to know some of these excellent students and learn more about their favorite QUEST moments, their post-grad plans, and how the program shaped their college experience.
Brian Ding (Cohort 39) is a Computer Science major who has made so many wonderful QUEST memories. Ding mentions that he especially loved the very beginning: “190H orientation was super fun, even though it was on campus. It was just so cool meeting everyone and doing little team-building activities with my new team!” Ding went on to explain how 190H was his favorite QUEST class, where he learned so many soft and hard skills he still uses to this day. Now, Ding is looking forward to traveling and moving into a new city—he’s already got his sights set on Arlington, VA. While QUEST sparked his interest in collaborative work like consulting, Ding plans to stick with software engineering for now. Wherever he goes, we know he’ll thrive!
Samantha Yee (Cohort 39) is an Operations Management & Business Analytics and Information Systems double major. For Samantha, QUEST was about teamwork, growth, and friendships—both in and out of the classroom. As she looks back, she fondly remembers being part of the Cohort 39 volleyball team, “the 39 Qties”! “This past semester, we made it to the semi-finals, and the whole experience was such a fun and energetic environment,” she shared. Post-grad, Yee is planning to travel around Asia before starting her full-time role in August. She’ll be joining Capital One as a Business Analyst in the Analyst Development Program in McLean, VA. We wish you the “QUEST” of luck, but we know you don’t need it!
Next up, I spoke to Computer Science major Melvin Rajendran (Cohort 40) who loved getting to know the passionate and diverse QUEST community. When it came to classes, he recommends the Product Management elective. “It’s a unique course that gives you insight into how companies ideate, design, and launch products. Jess [Alves de Sa], the instructor, is a senior product manager herself, so her feedback was invaluable!” After graduating this winter, Rajendran is excited to move to New York! He thanks QUEST for equipping him with professional skills, strong teamwork experience, and great alumni resources. Melvin will be starting as a Software Engineer in NYC. We wish you all the best in the big city!
Last but not least, Annaika Taneja (Cohort 39), Computer Science major, spoke with us about her unique and enriching QUEST journey. When we asked her about some of her favorite QUEST memories, she looked back on her time with QUESTPress. “I loved being on QUESTPress and bonding with some of the members (Andrew, Sona, and Ananya back then!). Through QUESTPress, I was able to interview incoming students and professors and feel really close to the QUEST community.” After graduation, Taneja is planning on taking a graduation trip to Europe with friends before starting as a Software Engineer in NYC. QUEST played a key role in her post-grad journey, too. “I got my job after meeting a recruiter at the QUEST Career Fair back in 2022.” We can’t wait to see what’s in store for you!
We are so proud of all the December graduates who’ve completed their QUEST journey. Whether they’re heading off to work, traveling the world, or pursuing new adventures, we know they’ll represent QUEST with passion, drive, and excellence. If you see a familiar name in this year’s group, be sure to send them a huge congratulations—you’ll be hearing great things about them soon:
Have you ever wanted to start your own business? Do you love pickles? Well, come try some of Chris & Eric’s Pickles on campus! I had the pleasure of speaking with Chris Moon (Cohort 42) and Hudson Grill (Cohort 42) about their new business, Chris & Eric’s Pickles.
Founders Chris Moon and Eric Bennett holding their pickle jars!
From pie-making to fall hikes to costume parties to football, fall is a season filled with good food, spooky fun, and long-lasting memories. These four QUESTees had a lot to share about their upcoming fall season plans.
Diwali candle-lighting ceremony
The school year is back in full swing, and so is QUEST. But what were our fabulous QUESTees up to this summer? I had the pleasure of speaking with three QUESTees with amazing summers. Let’s see what they were up to! Continue reading
Guest Feature by Valeria Salas-Dietz (Cohort 39)
On August 22nd, Cohort 43 students traveled to the Sandy Hill Camp & Retreat Center for a two-day excursion that defined and launched the beginning of their QUEST journeys. I was lucky enough to be able to accompany the fresh QUESTees as one of their mentors this semester.
Cohort 43 at QUEST Camp!
As this term comes to an end, we wanted to share some of our favorite QUESTPress memories and how this community has changed our lives for the better.
Summer break is fast approaching, and that means diplomas are arriving! Students in Cohort 37 & Cohort 38 are enjoying these warm days and celebrating the end of the semester with senior pictures and DC brunches. I was able to connect with a few graduating QUESTees about how QUEST influenced their college careers.
As the school year drew to a close, QUEST Social planned a variety of events to celebrate the hard work of all the QUEST students and welcome the new students in Cohort 43 and Cohort 44 who were recently accepted to the program in March.
A QUEST Social member, Anna Fulton, gave her own take on how these events panned out, ranging from everything from the spring formal to the senior send-off and end-of-the-year picnic. First off, Fulton discussed the formal, which was on Thursday, April 18th.
This month, I had the pleasure of speaking with some inspiring QUESTees about how the QUEST community has been a key element to their success. Let’s see what they had to say about their QUEST journeys so far!
Faith LeBrun of Cohort 41 says that working in QUEST teams has helped her become a better leader and team member. “QUEST has strengthened my communication skills, especially in teams with diverse perspectives. Moreover, it has helped me get better at managing my time, developing project ideas, and delegating tasks.” QUEST has also inspired her to reach out to her peers and the QUEST alumni network for interview techniques.
LeBrun (Cohort 41) with her BMGT190H team
Similarly, Abby Bond of Cohort 37 has learned a lot by networking with QUESTees both in and out of her major. “I was able to reach out to alumni in a plethora of roles and figure out what I wanted in a career. Through those professional interactions and interactions with our clients in classes, I’ve built confidence in my professional communication skills. Now I am able to present my best self and communicate my goals more effectively, which has helped me find roles that are best suited to me.” She also notes that the very nature of multidisciplinary teams has given her the opportunity to “communicate complex ideas simply by breaking them down into palatable ways.”
Bond (Cohort 37) giving a presentation at her previous internship
QUEST not only gives us opportunities to learn from our amazing alumni, but also from our peers currently going through the program. Sometimes, they can give the best advice!
Sebastian DeCady of Cohort 41 says that his peers have inspired him in many ways. One piece of advice that he’s gotten is to “be comfortable being uncomfortable.” He says, “This advice has propelled me further than I ever imagined, allowing me to look at my weaknesses as opportunities to build new strengths.”
DeCady (Cohort 41) with his BMGT190H team
Ume Habiba of Cohort 38 says that the most beneficial advice she’s received is to take advantage of all opportunities, whether or not they align with your immediate goals. “I think this was very valuable to me and my career because I was able to try different things and broaden my skillsets in different roles.”
Habiba (Cohort 38) with her BMGT490H team
Bond thinks that sometimes inspiration can be hidden. “I am constantly inspired by QUESTees around me. Seeing how they are driven by their passions and how they are able to be such caring, fun people inspires me to be my best self. I am so grateful for the friends I have made through this program.”