QUEST Honors Program Sees 48% Increase in 2024-2025 Cohort Applications

There are 31 years worth of reasons why stellar University of Maryland business, engineering and science undergraduate students aspire to join the Robert H. Smith School of Business’ QUEST Honors Program. But the simplest simplest explanation? Its dynamic learning environment empowers them to shape the future.

This year, the Quality Enhancement Systems and Teams Honors Program admitted its most selective candidate pool, with 90 students joining from the Smith School, the College of Computer, Mathematical, and Natural Sciences, and the A. James Clark School of Engineering.

The program observed a 48% increase in applications this year, eclipsing its previous 308 mark with 456 applications received during the 2024 cycle.

"We see the record number of applications we received last year as a demonstration of QUEST's growing reputation around campus,” says QUEST program coordinator Emily Marks. “We are proud to be attracting extremely impressive and high-caliber students to our program and can't wait to see how the selection process pans out this year."

During the three-year program, students in the dynamic-learning community work on team-based, experiential learning projects, employing total quality tools, design and systems thinking principles to produce actionable solutions for clients. Their coursework culminates in a semester-long capstone course in which students consult on a problem one of the program’s corporate or governmental partners is experiencing.

Finance undergraduate student Donovan Wayman ’27, was particularly interested in joining QUEST because of the potential exposure to other academic disciplines. His upbringing with parents who both have careers in mechanical engineering instilled a “scientifically oriented mindset” that he’s been able to nurture through the program and apply to his business coursework. 

“I’ve been able to learn many concepts that don't directly align with my major but greatly contribute to my knowledge across a wide range of industries,” says Wayman. “These experiences not only help us work effectively in teams but also foster adaptability and leadership in a collaborative environment.”

Fellow finance undergrad Emily Greenwald ’27, says the opportunity to learn from the perspectives and experiences of her peers doesn’t just make her a better student. It makes her “a well-rounded leader” and a “better person.”

So far, during her own experience in the program, Greenwald says she’s appreciated the relationships created with her peers and professors, as well as the alumni who have invested in her academic success as mentors. 

It’s the type of opportunity she believes every student should strive to be part of during their time at UMD, especially for those already seeking real-world experiences before taking their first steps toward a career.

“QUEST creates a place where students can think critically, step out of their comfort zones and build a network of connections that will set them apart and support them long after graduation,” says Greenwald.

The program’s mission of developing teamwork, communication and problem-solving skills in students is a major reason why it’s been considered a mainstay on the UMD campus over the last three decades. 

More recently, the program has showcased how it can help clients build high-quality digital projects, use data science to improve manufacturing and operations, and influence product development through design thinking.

Innovation is always in demand, which is why Bryan Rios Ramirez ’27, a finance and accounting major, feels that QUEST is the ideal environment for him to continue learning and growing.

“Through QUEST and working alongside my peers, I’ve enhanced my ability to approach problems creatively and effectively,” says Rios Ramirez. “This blend of teamwork, diverse perspectives and hands-on problem-solving sets it apart as a truly exceptional honors program.”