Diving Deeper into Innovation at the 3M Site Visit

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One of the important components of the QUEST experience is the opportunity to learn in unconventional ways. QUEST students were fortunate enough to get a once-in-a-lifetime chance to visit 3M’s Innovation Center in Washington, D.C. on October 19, 2018. This visit was organized by the QUEST Corporate student organization with help from Dr. Christina Elson and QUEST Program Manager Jessica Roffe. 3M is a multi-national corporation operating in the fields of industry, health care, and consumer goods. It has operations in more than 70 countries and has been in business for 116 years.

The visit was action-packed. The group first heard from Rory Yanchek, VP and GM of 3M Government Marketing – Sales, and Holly Chapman, DC Innovation Center Host, who taught them about 3M’s history and current impact by using science to change the world. Holly and Michelle Woodard, the DC Innovation Center Manager, then gave the group tours of the innovation center where they learned about the amazing innovations by 3M in many product lines. The information gave the students many ideas about how the skills they develop in QUEST can aid them in the future. Senior Michael Vetter (Q28), who helped organize the visit, said, “The talks were great as we explored how we can really utilize our knowledge from QUEST and apply it to the real world.”

The most popular part of the visit was a virtual reality simulation where the students got to test the difference between road signs that used 3M technology compared to those that did not. Michael’s personal favorite was learning about the different technologies that utilize optics to change how we perceive light and recognize objects to make a difference in our lives. Innovations like these are what the center has been built to showcase and help express the work that 3M has done over the years.

3M certainly made an impression on those visiting. Michael mentions that what he took away from the visit is that he would definitely be interested in working at 3M in the distant future because the company is so unique in its application of materials science and its flexibility between so many industries. He thinks, “The people truly care about the world and society, while developing products that reflect that.” A ringing endorsement like that speaks volumes about how impressive the Innovation Center must’ve been.

By all accounts, this site visit was a fascinating experience and created memories to cherish for everyone involved. It was an ideal mix of learning with fun and helped interested students learn some details on how a company like 3M pushes the boundaries of innovation further.

If you’re interested in inviting QUEST students to visit your company, please contact QUEST Program Manager Jessica Roffe at jroffe@umd.edu.

 

Uniting Students and Alumni: QUEST Homecoming Tailgate 2018

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The annual QUEST Homecoming Tailgate was held on Saturday, October 13, 2018. Students and alumni from different cohorts had fun eating burgers and playing cornhole, but the highlight for many of them was having the chance to interact with each other in a fun environment.

Q5 alumnus Brian Bender is the annual grill-master

QUEST Social member Megha Reddy (Q27) helped organize this year’s event. She said, “I think the reason we keep doing it every year is it’s a fun way to get alumni to come out. They’re coming to the homecoming game anyway, so it’s easy to coordinate. It’s just for fun and to get people to catch up.”

Alex Jerome (Q25) felt excited to see many students from his cohort who had graduated. He said, “There were some current students there, but obviously, I see current students all the time. I was more excited about talking to the alumni because they’re all over the place and not in College Park anymore. We had a lot of great memories together, so it was good seeing them.”

With the tailgate being closer to Van Munching Hall, Reddy said there was a higher turnout than previous years. She said, “It was nice because the tailgate was around the business school and where the business fraternities were so more people could stop by.”

Ankit Sheth (Q29) stopped by QUEST’s tailgate from Phi Chi Theta’s nearby tailgate. “It was really nice to see everyone in a more laid-back manner. Everyone in QUEST is a super achiever so it was nice to see everyone step back a little bit,” he said.

Current students enjoyed catching up with recent alumni at the tailgate. “I had a great time stopping by QUEST’s homecoming tailgate! Though I showed up with members of my own cohort, the real benefit came from getting to see so many friends who had graduated,” said Jacob Lapidus (Q27).

Jerome said, “I’ve gone almost every year, and I’ve always loved going, so I’m glad I got to go again. I’m glad this is something QUEST continues to do – bringing not just current students together, but alumni as well.”

To make the day even better, the Terps beat Rutgers 34-7!

Alumna Eden (Kroeger) Burks becomes an official UMD Hall of Famer

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Cohort 3 alumna Eden (Kroeger) Burks was inducted into the University of Maryland’s Athletics Hall of Fame on November 2, 2018. While in town to celebrate her amazing accomplishment, Eden was able to attend the women’s volleyball team game and meet current players and other newly inducted HOFers.

Mrs. Burks played for the university from 1994-1997 and was able to experience QUEST when it was still a new program around campus. I had the opportunity to chat with her to learn a little bit about her experiences with volleyball, QUEST, and UMD overall.

Eden grew up in Colorado and faced a major decision when it came time to commit to a university. After being recruited by a variety of teams, she fell in love with many aspects of UMD. “Aside from the coaching staff and team here, I immediately knew I wanted to be in the business school and especially took a great interest in QUEST.” She was seeking a challenging educational environment and was naturally drawn to the new interdisciplinary program that, at the time, was offered to only business and engineering students.

One of the biggest takeaways she felt that she gained from her time in QUEST was the value in understanding the different ways people think. “When I graduated, I immediately found the need to understand the minds of people like engineers. Thanks to QUEST, I was exposed to working on a team with them every day.” We never know what type of people we will encounter on a day-to-day basis, so understanding the value of diverse perspectives is crucial.

Eden found that teamwork was relevant in everything she was involved in on campus. Between volleyball and QUEST projects, she constantly was collaborating with those around her to “win.” However, she made it a point to mention a specific aspect of teamwork she valued the most when asked about any advice she would give to current students.

“You’re not going to remember your exact grade, but you’re going to remember the fun times and the craziness around it.” She distinctly remembered making goofy videos for QUEST presentations above everything else, and those college memories are some of her favorites.

Eden truly made the QUEST community proud with such a career milestone! Congratulations again!

 

 

Alumna Spotlight: Rou Tzamaras (Q26)

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With the variety of majors represented in QUEST, it is impressive to see how experiences gained in QUEST provide a clear advantage when it comes to full-time positions across all disciplines. I had the opportunity to speak with recent Clark School graduate Rou Tzamaras of Cohort 26 about her work at Stanley Black & Decker. 

What do you do at Stanley Black & Decker?

My position at Stanley Black & Decker (SBD) is a bit of a mouthful. To start, I am a mechanical engineer in the SBD Leadership program, a rotational program for high potential new hires, and I am currently in my first rotation in the Power Tools and Engineering (PTE) group. Within that group, I am on the Dewalt expansion team on a subteam specializing in lighting. Currently, I am working on designing a heatsink to ensure that our light can handle the thermal load from the LED and a spring that can hold our handle in place regardless of any added battery weight.

What is the most rewarding part of your job? 

The most rewarding part of my job from an engineering standpoint is knowing that something I spend time doing calculations on and working hard to iterate and prototype will be a functional part of our product and be in every unit that gets produced and sold. My current project volume is about 32,000 units, meaning that every unit will work thermally because of a heatsink I designed. In my mind, I more or less touched every single one, and I find that very fascinating to think about.

From a personal standpoint, SBD has many community service initiatives, and I have been able to join the Community Involvement community within the leadership program. Knowing that my company cares about being present in the community and donating products, money, and time to help people makes me feel good about my choice to work here.

What’s something that surprised you when starting out in the workplace?

The thing that surprised me the most when I started working was how little I actually know about how life works. For real, learn about benefits, investments, the stock market, 401ks, loans, how to buy a car, etc. as much as you can before you find yourself faced with these things. Another thing that surprised me is how lax many of my peers are about saving money. Don’t wait to set up your 401k! And look for companies that do 401k matching. Seriously, you won’t regret it!

What is your favorite memory of QUEST?

My favorite memory of QUEST is most definitely my 490H capstone team and when we went to Missouri with Dr. Armstrong to visit our project site. Dr. Armstrong is one of my favorite professors ever, and my 490H team got along extremely well so it is was fun to go on plant tours of Orbital ATK with them and figure out how to frame our project. A few other great memories are doing the mannequin challenge in Dr. Suarez’s class, Max Samuels playing his Ukulele in 390H, and Dr. Bailey’s bowties.

How has QUEST made a difference in your career as an engineer?

QUEST has made a difference for me by influencing how I approach problem-solving by pushing me to think more deeply about the best solution. My job is design, and design inherently requires problem-solving as ideas are formed into prototypes, prototypes are tested, and we push toward production. I understand the business and marketing side of our products more than the average engineer, and I have a solid background in Lean Six Sigma processes which helps as well. Also, QUEST taught me how to work with diverse teams, which is extremely relevant in the design world.

 

Rou was also recently featured on the Tuesday Takeovers on the QUEST Instagram page (@questumd). QUEST students are truly unparalleled in their unique experiences in the program, pushed to excel beyond expectations, and go on to make waves in the workplace just as Rou is at SBD!

 

QUEST Student and Alumna Team up after Capstone

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Creating a successful startup is no easy task, yet there are several QUEST alumni who have been able to solve problems they are passionate about by creating their own company. A couple examples include Kanchan Singh (Q17), who started a cat café in D.C. called Crumbs and Whiskers, Sahil Rahman (Q17), who co-founded Rasa, an Indian restaurant, and Allan Nicholas (Q20), who created a startup called Sweet Buds that sells scented earring backs that release perfume throughout the day. This article, however, will follow the story of Kajal Pancholi (Q7) and how her aerospace and systems engineering firm, Avatar Technologies, grew and eventually came back to QUEST.

Kajal Pancholi has stayed connected with QUEST even after her graduation. She had sponsored several QUEST Capstone projects through her previous employer, Millennium Engineering and Integration Company, but this time she decided to reach out to partner with QUEST so a team of 490H students could help Avatar Technologies become an ISO 9001 registered company. Kajal said she needed “bright, hardworking, and innovative individuals to augment [her] team and develop tailored quality management tools & techniques for the company’s operations,” and she believed it would be a perfect project for QUEST. Students Dennis Chen, Taylor Joyce, Julia Roh, and Devin Rosen from cohort 27 came together to implement an ISO 9001-compliant Quality Management System so that Avatar Technologies could gain a competitive advantage in its field.

One student on the team, Devin Rosen, really enjoyed working with Avatar Technologies during his time in 490H and consequently returned to Avatar for a summer internship. Devin learned many aspects of technology entrepreneurship and enjoyed his time learning about Avatar with his team and wanted to be able to continue helping Kajal make an impact by getting Avatar Technologies an ISO-9001 certificate. Devin said that there were several differences between working with his team and working with Kajal over the summer, and mentioned that “the biggest difference was going from a group project to an individual endeavor [he] could turn into [his] own.” He also said that he had to absorb a lot more information about the company and about ISO-9001 since his teammates weren’t there to bounce ideas off of over the summer, but that Kajal was a great help in guiding him and teaching him the ins and outs of the Avatar business.

Kajal and Devin represented Avatar Technologies at the QUEST Networking Event in September

Being a math major, Devin mentioned that he was able to utilize his critical thinking and problem solving skills when assessing Avatar’s regular business operations in order to optimize process interactions and design the Quality Management System itself. He wants to tell QUEST students that regardless of the project or the major, people will be appreciative of hard work. He mentioned, “QUEST students make significant impacts” in 490H, and that the class itself encourages students to ask as many questions as possible in order to filter ideas and uncover effective solutions. He also wants to emphasize that students are capable of learning more than they think. After being assigned to his 490H project, Devin said he “learned a lot about ISO-9001 quality management system and that it was nice to prove to [himself] that [he] can jump into something completely foreign, learn all about it, and come up with impactful recommendations.”

Kajal was very appreciative of the work that the team did during 490H and the work Devin did during his time at Avatar since now the quality management system is in place and that all there is left is to call an auditor to get Avatar Technologies certified. She said that there are many benefits working for a smaller scale company for the 490H project since the work students do create a very meaningful impact on a large scale. She also mentioned that “Working with the QUEST students and Devin was both professionally and personally rewarding,” since the project brought back memories of Kajal’s own QUEST experiences and she was able to “use that QUEST knowledge and lessons to be a better-engaged and more resourceful project champion for the student team.”

 

 

QUEST Students Attend Grace Hopper Celebration of Women in Computing

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The Grace Hopper Celebration, recently hosted in Houston, Texas, is “the world’s largest gathering of women technologists,” according to AnitaB.org. It is a major opportunity for women, who are generally underrepresented in the tech industry, to seek job opportunities, attend learning sessions, and connect with others within the field. Over 20,000 women attended the conference this year, and some of our very own QUEST students did as well. Sasha Miller (Q29), Jacqueline Deprey (Q30), and Neha Satapathy (Q30) got to fly to Houston for the expo featuring over five hundred companies set up by the Anita Borg Foundation.

QUEST Members Jacqueline Deprey (Q30) (starting second from left), Sasha Miller (Q29), and Neha Satapathy (Q30).

While the conference has a very technical base, the conversations to be had were very enriching beyond the obvious deliverables. Q30’s Jacqueline attended a session comparing careers in software engineering and project management. Jacqueline got to see what each of the career paths looked like beyond their surface titles and past the stereotypes. After reflecting on the conference, Sasha learned the most while listening to a talk given by Emily Chang, the author of Brotopia. Emily’s message and Sasha’s biggest takeaway was that “women can’t fear away from intimidation of men (especially in Silicon Valley) and women have to continue to break the norms in tech to change the future.”

Being that the three women featured in this article are also QUEST members, they definitely noticed QUEST playing a role in their time at the conference. The overarching sentiment was a sense of gratitude towards QUEST as ideals and projects from QUEST panned out to be great talking points during interviews. Recruiters were consistently impressed by the advanced team-based work that the QUEST students had. Jacqueline really felt that QUEST was also helpful in strengthening soft skills to be used for the casual networking events that followed conference socials.

To get involved with future Grace Hopper Celebrations and even just to grow a network amongst women in computing, joining the Maryland Center for Women in Computing (MCWIC) is a great place to start. They not only provide a plethora of resources here on campus, but they also awarded scholarships to send women from Maryland to the conference. Jacqueline says that she “100% would recommend attending…[she] gained advice that helped shape the direction [she] wants to take [her] professional career in, networked with inspirational industry leaders, and even obtained several job offers.” On a similar note, Sasha said, “I would recommend this to all females in tech. It is a once in a lifetime experience that provides you with such unique opportunities. You’ll meet great people, be challenged intellectually, and have amazing offers come out of it!”

The trip was full of meaningful highlights for our QUEST students. Getting to meet so many new people and having the chance to learn so much in such a brief time was exciting! Sasha loved getting to develop stronger connections with UMD’s community of computer science females that she did not know before the conference. Furthermore, she feels like “[she] gained a positive mindset… being around such influential and powerful women in tech made [Sasha] feel incredibly empowered.” From traveling and rooming together to attending company sponsored socials and celebrating the adventure, the conference was an all-around fantastic experience. Long term, the Anita Borg Foundation hopes to create a more level and equal platform within the tech field, and it is definitely fair to say that Sasha, Jacqueline, and Neha left with not only a polished understanding of the tech world but also with memories to last through their careers in tech and beyond.

 

QUEST Networking Event Connects Students, Recruiters, and Alumni

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On September 27th, QUEST Corporate held its 4th Annual Networking Event in the Prince George’s Room at Stamp Student Union. The event has grown since its inaugural year in 2015, allowing QUEST students to gain valuable connections with recruiters and learn more about the various internship and job opportunities that they offer.

Corporate representatives were very excited to meet the students and promote their companies. The 18 QUEST corporate partners in attendance included Accenture, APT, AT&T, Avatar Technologies, Bloomberg, Capital One, Deloitte, EY, General Electric, Guidehouse, Leidos, Miltec UV, NSA, Oceaneering, Protiviti, T. Rowe Price, Under Armour, and Zentail. The event’s location in Stamp was celebrated by many students who were excited about the central campus location and personal setting of the room.

What sets this networking event apart from other career fairs and similar events? Conor Casey, a senior in Q27, said, “I’d say the most valuable takeaway from the QUEST networking events are the connections. It’s interesting how much the dynamic changes once resumes aren’t included. It becomes much more focused on developing connections, and that should be the goal in my opinion.”

Because many of the recruiters are QUEST alumni themselves, students and recruiters can instantly find a common ground based on their aspirations and involvement in the QUEST program. According to Conor, “Overall, I would say that focusing on your experiences in QUEST is a great way to establish more meaningful connections through a relatable topic.”

Universally, the event was a resounding success. Students from all cohorts came together to eat, socialize, and network. The event facilitated connections not only between the students and the recruiters, but also between the students and their fellow peers – and new friends. Thanks to QUEST Corporate for setting it up!

Alumna Spotlight: Neha Kundagrami (Q24)

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The transition from a college student to a full-time position is tumultuous, but it is rewarding to see years of education come to fruition in the workplace. Within QUEST, there is an extensive emphasis on application over rote book learning, which is clear in the successes of countless QUEST alumni. I recently spoke with Neha Kundagrami of Cohort 24 (a 2017 graduate) about her position at Deloitte and how QUEST has helped her in her career.

What exactly do you do for Deloitte?

I’m a business technology analyst, which means that I provide consulting services to technology-focused and technology-centric engagements or projects.  

What is the most rewarding part of your job?

When the team is able to get together and finally resolve a problem or a question that the client has been having for years, it’s a very rewarding experience.

How did QUEST help you find success in the workplace?

Consulting is a very QUEST-centric career. All the things I learned in my 490H project – staying in scope, creating timelines, delivery of final deliverables, and so on – are all things I use on a daily basis in my job as a consultant. 

Any advice for current QUEST students?

Network! QUEST honestly has almost any resource you could ever need, and you have the QUEST directory, which gives you contact information for any alum you could ever want to talk to! Reach out to the alum who work in fields you’re interested in for a chat – that real-world experience and mentorship is probably the best gift QUEST has ever given me. 

Neha was also featured on the Tuesday Takeovers on the QUEST Instagram page. QUEST’s alumni network is both vastly useful and easily accessible. As Neha discussed, QUEST is chock full of all necessary resources for your career, so make sure to take advantage of them as soon as possible!

QUEST Students Team Up for Radio Show, Play Ball

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If you’re a die-hard sports fan, or simply want to learn more about what goes on, Akshay Guthal (Q27) and Michael Vetter (Q28) are now “on-air” to talk about the latest and greatest sports news through their own radio show, Play Ball.  The newbies were recruited this semester by their good friend Dylan D’Andrea, who previously hosted the show solo. Every Tuesday at 7pm, they meet up to discuss a variety of sports and “what’s big.”

Michael and Akshay at a Capitals game

Dylan, a journalism major, created Play Ball as a way to set time aside to chat about his passion. For Akshay and Michael, the feeling was mutual. The show allows them to take a break from the chaos of the week, research current sports events, and debate over some of their favorite topics.

“We mainly do it for fun, and we’re all good friends,” Michael noted. “It’s basically just bringing the conversation that we have behind closed doors, on air.”

Despite being huge sports fans, talking over radio is definitely an adjustment from casually debating with some friends. When asked about the transition, Akshay added, “I’ve never done anything like this before with people listening to what I say. I was a little nervous.” Having a conversation through a public, live medium is a bit odd, and both Akshay and Michael mentioned some of the challenges they have faced in the past couple weeks.

For example, when it comes to a radio show, hosts always need to have something to say. There can be no silence, regardless of whether or not someone already touched on a point. The content of what is said also needs to be a bit filtered because each comment is no longer private. When providing sports commentary, the debate can get a bit competitive, and both emphasized that it is important to remember in the end that they are a team.

“In a sense, you are talking about a competition so naturally you become competitive talking about it. At the same time, you are talking with your cohosts, so you need to remember that you are giving a show together.”

Though there are some challenges, the show has been beneficial for improving communication skills. When talking to a live audience, Akshay and Michael have learned to speak better and focus more. Responses to questions and general conversation become more concise, so rambling or redundancy is avoided.

Overall, Play Ball has been a great hobby for the pair of seniors. When asked about any advice they would give to students considering starting a radio show, both were very encouraging. Michael says, “Just do it. Don’t think about it too much, and be yourself. Make sure your radio show is on something you’re passionate and knowledgeable about.”

If you’re looking to start your own sports radio show, you can go to WMUCsports.net and email the address provided to request your own prime time. The radio shows are on the internet rather than on FM radio, so it is easier to reserve a spot. You can tune into Play Ball at ter.ps/playball!

QUEST Falls for Fall

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Grab a flannel shirt and carve a pumpkin because it’s finally time to bid farewell to humid summer days. That’s right, fall is finally here!

Whether they plan on hanging tiny ghosts on their door or baking pumpkin pie, there are ample reasons why QUEST students are ready to welcome fall!

CHILLY WEATHER

“I’m excited about the weather not being so warm,” said Shawna McCarter (Q31). “While hot summer days are fun, 90 degree weather isn’t optimal once you have to walk around campus every day. My roommate and I are counting down the days until we can finally turn off all four of our fans.”

FALL FASHION

Layering outfits in fall is the best because you can wear a denim jacket or boots without sweating, but you don’t have to wear a coat either. “I like when it gets cold, and I can wear jackets,” said Neil Duggal (Q31).

You can also wear fun fall colors such as orange, dark green, and maroon. Sasha Miller (Q29) said, “I’m excited to break out my fall colored sweaters and leggings.”

LEAVES!

The most beautiful part of autumn is when the leaves start to change. “I love the crisp air and the changing leaves. Crunching leaves is the best part,” said Quinn Wandalowski (Q31). “When I was a kid, I always loved jumping into a pile of leaves. It meant my dad had to rake the leaves all over again, but it was still fun!”

DECORATIONS

Whether it’s a mini pumpkin in someone’s window or decorations on dorm doors, it’s always fun when you start spotting the beginning of Halloween festivities. Dillyn Payne (Q32) started decorating as soon as possible. “On October 1st, I had already pulled my fall decorations out of my closet and hung everything up,” she said. “My grandmother also sends me a box of autumn decorations every year, so I was definitely excited about receiving that package in the mail.”

Anusha Dixit (Q31) also looked forward to decorating her suite with her roommates. “My suitemates and I started decorating our room with ghost name tags earlier in the month, and we plan to add lights and other spooky stuff!”

HAUNTED HOUSES

A unique aspect of spooky season is the haunted houses and other frightening attractions. I’ll be honest, every year I dread going to Legends of the Fog with my friends. For some reason, I’m always the only one in the group who’s terrified!  

Payne has a bit more courage than me, as she avidly plans to go to her first haunted house. She said, “I’ve never been before, but they sound exhilarating, especially if you were to go with a group of your friends. I’m not one to absolutely love scary movies and such, but one haunted house can’t hurt, right?”

HOLIDAY SEASON

As Halloween quickly approaches, QUEST students are already looking forward to the holidays that are just around the corner. Wandalowski said she’s already excited for Thanksgiving. “I like that the swing of holiday season is starting!”

Graham Schuckman (Q31) can’t wait to spend his favorite holiday with his family. “I’m already pumped for Thanksgiving break. I love Thanksgiving! I make pumpkin pies every year for my family.”