Eric Chen

Eric Chen entered the University with only a few friends from high school, fearing that he wouldn't be able to find a footing in someplace new. He wasn't sure how he wanted his college years to look, and he found the idea of preparing for a career after graduating incredibly daunting. As Eric settled into the University, he was able to connect with a lot of people really quickly, from within his major to within the same clubs to social events. He joined many student groups with the hope of making new friends and finding new passions. Eric built the carbon fiber monocoque in the composites team of Terps Racing, became the first data acquisition lead in the Students for the Exploration and Development of Space's liquid rocket team, won the Northrop Grumman Environmental Sustainability Challenge with his team's smart water system, and more. Eric joined the Asian American student organizations, performing at the year cultural festival and attending many cultural events. He picked up breakdancing and became the treasurer of B-terps, UMD's breakdancing team. He joined QUEST, UMD's consulting and collaborative team program for business and STEM students. Lastly, Eric helped organize Bitcamp as both a tech organizer in 2023 and tech director in 2024, UMD's premier hackathon hosted in the Spring. He has met some of the most wonderful people within UMD, and has found someplace I can call home. Eric has thoroughly enjoyed courses such as Computer Architecture and Introduction to Quality and Design. Eric’s been able to take part in three internships during his time here, drastically influenced by his progress and experiences at UMD, and he feels prepared to take on any full-time role when he graduates or pursue any graduate education if he chooses to do so. Eric is so grateful for the opportunities he’s received while at UMD, and looks to make the best of his last year here.