QUEST Honors Program

The QUEST (Quality Enhancement Systems and Teams) Honors Program is a three-year program for University of Maryland undergraduates studying business, engineering, and/or science. Through our five-course curriculum, students complete experiential learning projects and gain unique teamwork, communication, and problem-solving skills that prepare them for their futures. Now in our 28th year, QUEST has become a mainstay at the University of Maryland, College Park, providing a unique opportunity for students who are interested in multidisciplinary, hands-on learning experiences.

2020 ANNUAL REPORT

QUEST at a Glance

250

Business, Engineering, and Science Students

100%

of Seniors Would
"Do It All Again"

3.71

Average Incoming GPA

40%

Accept Jobs With QUEST Corporate Partners

Information for UMD Students

QUEST invites talented freshmen to apply to the program each year during winter break. Students interested in applying in December 2020 must meet the following criteria:

Currently a freshman (or graduating in fall 2023 or later)
Currently enrolled in a major offered by the Robert H. Smith School of Business, A. James Clark School of Engineering, and/or College of Computer, Mathematical, and Natural Sciences
Achieved a GPA of 3.0 or higher in the first semester

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“

QUEST gave me the space to develop personal skills like public speaking and networking within a quasi-professional environment. QUEST students leave with a well-rounded toolbox that allows them to succeed in any path they choose. QUEST at its heart is a big family and provides a very warm and welcoming environment for students. It has been my favorite part of my college experience.

— Hadas Elazar-Mittelman, Materials Science & Engineering '20

”

Information for Corporate Partners

QUEST welcomes the opportunity to partner with organizations interested in contributing to student learning and gaining access to talented undergraduate students in business, engineering, and science. Our corporate partners provide experiential learning opportunities for QUEST students through project sponsorship in both our capstone course and our data analysis course. Corporate partners are also invited to our annual networking event and receive QUEST resume books every semester.

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50+

Annual Experiential Learning Projects

92%

Team Recommendations Implemented

85%

Returning Partners

“

It’s so powerful to have the students come in as an outside party and ask, ‘Why are you doing it this way?’ It really makes us stop and think if our process is really what’s right for the customer. We need that perspective to make sure we stay on the right task and not just any task.

— Andrew Hong, Lean Leader, ST Engineering - Middle River Aerostructure Systems

”

QUEST Honors Program Celebrates Diverse Incoming Class

The University of Maryland’s Quality Enhancement Systems and Teams (QUEST) Honors Program will welcome one of its most diverse classes ever in the fall of 2020. For the 2019-20 school year, QUEST received 245 applications, 14% of which were submitted by students who identify as black or Hispanic/Latinx, up from 8% the previous year. In March 2020, QUEST invited 90 first-year students to the program, 22% of whom identify as black or Hispanic/Latinx, up from 8% the year before. READ MORE.

Undergrads Help Build Businesses in Africa

Few class projects deliver the kind of global impact that comes from those in David Ashley’s course. Ashley, an executive in residence at the University of Maryland’s Robert H. Smith School of Business, teaches a course that links undergraduate students with entrepreneurs in Africa and helps them grow their businesses. The projects are part of a first-of-its-kind partnership with a U.S. African Development Foundation program that supports young entrepreneurs in Africa. READ MORE.