Quest
Question • Understand • Explore • Serve • Transform
First-Year Leadership and College Transition Experience
QUEST is designed to help you create connections across campus with other first-year students and upperclass peer mentors, build your confidence and develop and practice key leadership behaviors and skills, all while feeling comfortable in your new home here at UD.
This selective program is open to 112 students who demonstrate an interest in learning about leadership and who show a desire to thrive through engagement in the UD community.
Email Matthew Creasy with questions:
mcreasy@udel.edu
QUEST participants engage in activities both on and off campus. They’ll hear from keynote speakers, experience campus resources and build bonds to last a lifetime. A day trip to Sandy Hill camp will include outdoor activities, such as rope courses, boat races and an evening bonfire. Participants also socialize with other first-year students, join leadership workshops, identify values, set goals, engage in community service and more.
Participants will:
- Identify a set of personal values
- Create a list of SMART goals for the fall semester
- Identify their personal leadership style
- Learn to work effectively as part of a diverse team
- Articulate concepts of various leadership models
- Learn to face fears, take risks and confront challenges
- Identify tools for success at UD
Our staff is committed to three overarching outcomes for you as a QUEST participant:
- Helping you adjust to college life at University of Delaware
- Creating a sense of belonging and friendship networks across campus
- Exploring your leadership potential to effectively step into and out of leadership processes while at UD and beyond!
2025 QUEST Student Coordinators
Casey Schaeffer
Hi everyone! My name is Casey Schaeffer (she/her/hers) and I am beyond excited to be one of your QUEST Student Coordinators this year! I am a senior from Yardley, PA, majoring in Leadership with a minor in Event Management. On campus you can find me in The Women’s Network Club, traveling with our alternative breaks program (UDAB) and hanging out with my friends on The Green. I also serve as the Leadership Representative within the Biden School and a member of the Community Engagement Scholars program. I love listening to music, playing volleyball and going on drives! I have met some of my closest friends through QUEST and through other programs through the Leadership and Service office and I cannot wait to meet all of you and make new shared memories!
Jason Puza
Hi everyone! My name is Jason Puza (he/him/his), and I am from Dallas, PA, which is a real place (I promise). I am a senior pre-med biological sciences major with minors in philosophy and medical humanities, and I’m so so so excited to be a student coordinator for the 2025 QUEST program!! In my free time, I enjoy working out, playing video games and building LEGOs. Being part of QUEST has been an amazing experience, and I’m grateful for the opportunity to grow as a leader and connect with such an inspiring community. I’m looking forward to meeting all of you and supporting your leadership journeys!
Maddy Thompson
Hi, everyone!! My name is Maddy Thompson (she/her/hers), and I’m so excited to be a Student Coordinator this year! I’m a senior from Pittsburgh, PA, and an Honors Human Physiology major with minors in Leadership and Spanish for Healthcare. On campus, I’m involved with the Leadership and Service office, Writing Fellows, OAE Tutoring and Greek Life (both Panhellenic and professional). When I’m not studying at ISE or the library, you can find me grabbing coffee with friends, going on walks, reading or listening to music. I love traveling, hugs and all things pink! My favorite leadership memory is traveling to Puerto Rico for an Alternative Winter Break Program and forming meaningful connections with new friends there. QUEST has provided me with a safe space to grow as a leader, build confidence, celebrate the little wins in life and find a family away from home. I can’t wait to meet all of you!
2025 QUEST Peer Mentors
Lola Babalola
Hi! My name is Lola Babalola (she/her) and I am an Honors junior from Malvern, PA. I am an Economics B.S. and Theatre Studies B.A. with a Voice minor. My campus involvement includes Blue Hen Investment Club, Delta Sigma Pi business fraternity, Concert Choir, Economics tutoring and being the founder of a songwriting club called Music Makers. QUEST was one of the most incredible experiences of my first year and I’m so grateful for the friends, leadership skills and memories this program brought me. I cannot wait to return as a Peer Mentor and bring QUEST to a new entering class. I’m so excited to meet you all and help you transition into UD!
Jordyn Blachar
Hi!! My name is Jordyn Blachar (she/her/hers) and I am so incredibly excited to be a Peer Mentor! I’m a second-year student from Westchester, NY, double majoring in Psychology and Leadership. On campus, I am involved in UDance, Hillel, Blue Hen Ambassadors and of course the Leadership and Service Office through UDAB and the leadership certificates! I am also in the Honors College and a Community Engagement Scholar! I love live music, reading, going on walks, being a camp counselor and spending time with friends. Participating in QUEST was the best decision I have ever made, and some of my closest friends and best memories from college have come from this program. I absolutely cannot wait to meet you and be a part of your QUEST experience!
Alessandra Broussard
Hi! My name is Alessandra Broussard and I am so excited to be your QUEST Peer Mentor! I am a sophomore from Milford, Delaware and I am double majoring in Biology and International Relations. On campus, I am involved in UDAB through the Leadership and Service office and I am a member of the Honors Planning Board through the Honors College. I love hanging out with friends, traveling anywhere and everywhere and reading in my free time! I am beyond excited to meet you guys and see how we can grow together! I have gained meaningful relationships and knowledge through QUEST and I could not have asked for a better family going into college!
Lukas Demskis
Hey! My name is Lukas Demskis and I am a junior from Newtown, Pennsylvania. I am a Sports Health major in the 3+2 program for Athletic Training and I plan to study Physical Therapy. On campus I am currently involved in the Blue Hen Leadership Program, Athletic Training Student’s Association and I am the UDance chair of the Men’s Volleyball Team executive board. In my free time I enjoy rock climbing, going to the gym, playing all types of sports, learning songs on the guitar and hanging out with friends. The QUEST program made my transition to college a super smooth experience and helped me find a great group of friends early on. I’m super grateful to have had the opportunity to participate in the program and I can’t wait to meet you all!
Katie Friedman
Hi everyone! My name is Katie Friedman (she/her/hers) and I am SO excited to be a QUEST Peer Mentor this year! I am an undeclared Honors sophomore from Seattle, WA. On campus, I’ve been involved with the Hillel ImpAct cohort and the Blue Hen Leadership Program certificates. I also participated in UD Alternative Breaks to Puerto Rico in the winter of 2025! Outside of academics, you can find me staying active in the gym, listening to music and walking to get a coffee with friends, and I love spending time outside hiking, swimming and going for scenic drives. I can’t imagine starting my college experience without QUEST. I made life-long friends and gained a diverse, fun community centered around leadership, teamwork, and belonging. QUEST has truly made UD feel like home and I cannot encourage first-year students to apply enough! I can’t wait to meet all of you!
Jaime Kraus
Hey everyone! My name is Jaime Kraus (she/her/hers). I am a sophomore from Norristown, PA, majoring in Mechanical Engineering. On campus, I’m on the Varsity Women’s Rowing Team and participate in UDAB and Blue Hen Leadership Program within the Lead and Serve office. During my free time, you can find me listening to music, playing my guitar, hanging out with friends and binging my favorite TV shows. One of my all-time favorites is The Office! QUEST helped ease the transition to college, while also providing a space to grow into the leader I am today. I met so many amazing people and some of my closest friends at QUEST. I can’t wait to meet you all and see you grow this semester.
Aidan Lam
Hi everyone! My name is Aidan and I am a Junior History and Political Science double major from Manhattan, New York City. On campus, I work at the library and am a History Honors Society member. I am also involved in multiple programs through the leadership office, such as their alternative breaks and Blue Hen Leadership Program. In my free time, I like to go to the gym, play basketball, read and hang out with my friends. I also work at Caffe Gelato on Main Street and am working on a research project. I love to travel and try new things. I am very excited to be a part of Quest, as it was a very pivotal learning experience for me. It allowed me to make connections, friends and lasting memories!
Maddy Lowe
Hey everyone! My name is Maddy Lowe and I’m a junior medical diagnostics pre-physician assistant major from Kennett Square, Pennsylvania. I just want to start off by saying applying to QUEST is one of the best decisions you can make coming into college here at Delaware. QUEST is a program that allows you to build relationships, get exposed to opportunities and get accustomed to college life before school even starts! Here at Delaware I’m involved in club volleyball, Christian Challenge, pre-PA club, UD alternative breaks, Blue Hen Leadership Program and I also work as an EMT at Aetna Hose Hook and Ladder company. I LOVE listening to country music, having game nights, working out and cooking! I’m so excited to meet you all and see all the amazing things you accomplish. 🙂
Siena Norcross
Hi y’all! My name is Siena Norcross (she/her/hers) and I am a Junior in the honors college majoring in Food Science and minoring in Nutrition. San Antonio, Texas is my hometown, but I am a military kid so I have lived all over. 🙂 Here at UD I am involved in the Food Science Club, Dsharps Acapella and I also work at the UDairy Creamery as a Dairy Production intern! In my free time on campus, I play volleyball, softball and go to lots of school events (my favorite is paint night). My college experience started with QUEST and I highly recommend it as I gained some of my best connections with friends/university resources. I cannot wait to meet the new round of QUESTers. I’m rooting for all of you already!
Jack Ra
Hey Everyone! My name is Jack Ra and I am so excited to be a peer mentor this year! I am a Sophomore from Howell, NJ, majoring in Sports Management. Besides being a member of the Blue Hen Leadership Program, I am also involved with the on-campus intramural sports. In my free time I love listening to music, watching/playing sports, going to the beach and binge-watching a new show/movie. QUEST has provided me with an eased transition into my college experience as a freshman by promoting a sense of family, a safe space to grow as a leader, build confidence and share lifelong laughs and memories that I will cherish forever. Participating in QUEST was an awesome experience and I can’t wait to meet you all!
Jadah Ricks
My name is Jadah Ricks and I am a Women’s and Gender Studies and Human Services double major with a minor in Domestic Violence Prevention Services here at UD. I am originally from Upper Marlboro, Maryland. Some hobbies of mine include cooking, baking, reading, doing hair and spending quality time with my loved ones. On campus I am a Healthy Hens Peer Educator and involved in Greek Life. I cannot wait to be a returning QUEST Peer Mentor and am excited to help first year’s have a smooth transition into their first semester at UD!
Nick Riggi
Hey! My name is Nick Riggi and I’m from Harrington, Delaware. I’m a Sophomore Honors Criminal Justice major with Forensic Science and Spanish minors, hoping to become a Delaware State Trooper. On campus, you can find me running with the Cross Country and Track & Field Club team, patrolling campus as a University of Delaware Police Department Cadet and discussing criminal cases with the True Crime Club. I’m also a 1743 Scholar of the University of Delaware Distinguished Scholars Program. In my free time, I love to bike, work out, play volleyball and rock out to music. Thanks to QUEST, I was able to cruise smoothly through my freshman year with lots of friends and skills to support me. QUEST was an incredible experience, and I’m so glad you all get to participate in it, too! Can’t wait to meet you guys!
Ethan Roseman
Hey! My name is Ethan Roseman and I am a Junior Biology and Liberal Arts major hoping to become a dermatologist. I am from Mount Laurel, New Jersey. On campus I am currently involved in UDance, the Blue Hen Leadership Program and the National Society of Collegiate Scholars. My favorite things to do in my free time are playing golf, hanging with friends, watching movies and going to the gym. Participating in QUEST my first year here was an amazing experience. I met some of my current best friends doing this program and it helped to make my transition into college a whole lot smoother. I am excited to meet you all and see all that you will accomplish.
Marykate Sharkey
Hey everyone! I’m Marykate Sharkey and I am beyond excited to be one of your QUEST Peer mentors this year! I am a Junior from Atlantic Highlands, New Jersey, majoring in Leadership with a concentration in non-profit management. On campus, I work for the Creative Leadership, Innovation and Service office as a Student Ambassador and UDAB Site Lead, and I am a Community Engagement Scholar. During my free time, you can find me lost in a good book, hosting movie marathons or whipping up something good in the kitchen. I love quality time with loved ones and soaking up the sunshine whenever possible. My journey with QUEST has been transformative, shaping me into the leader I am today and helping me find my community here at UD. I am so excited to meet you and have an absolute blast! This is a fresh start, so I encourage you to dive right in and enjoy every moment!
Justin Stauffer
Hi everyone! My name is Justin Stauffer, and I am a sophomore chemical engineering major. I am from Harleysville, PA. Here at UD, I am in the honors college and am a member of the Engineers Without Borders club. I also enjoy going for runs at White Clay Park, playing volleyball on the courts outside of Redding, playing soccer and spikeball on the turf and spending time with friends! At home, I also am a pianist for a local piano bar. QUEST was one of the biggest highlights of my freshman year as it introduced me to so many great people before school even started! I can’t wait to share this great experience with all of you!
Ben Zifcak
Hello! My name is Benjamin and I am a sophomore Computer Science and Linguistics major with a Spanish minor from Silver Spring Maryland. On campus, I am a club officer for the UD Outing Club, a member of the Rubber Chicken Improv Group and a brother of Phi Sigma Pi, a gender-inclusive national honors fraternity. Outside of school, I am a camp counselor, a passionate musician and a big fan of all things outdoors. QUEST was an incredible experience. I’m so grateful for all that it taught me and all the memories that I made. I am so excited to be a Peer Mentor and Cannot wait to bring QUEST to more Blue Hens!
All Peer Mentors are Certified Peer Educators (CPE), as designed by NASPA, the association for Student Affairs Administrators in Higher Education.
CPE training helps peer educators develop leadership skills to be able to successfully create and implement campus programs. The training includes eight modules covering the role of peer education, helping peers make a behavior change, listening skills, response and referral skills, how to take action and intervene, recognizing the role of diversity and inclusivity, programming and presentation skills, self-care and group dynamics.
