QUEST 2016 Peer Mentor Bios
Matt Kantner, Senior Peer Mentor
Hey Questers, my name is Matt Kantner and I am a senior from
Bethlehem, PA. Currently I am studying Marketing, with a minor in
Management Information Systems. Skiing, surfing, backpacking,
and photography are a few hobbies of mine. Besides being a part
of the Blue Hen Leadership Program, I have been a part of Greek
life, and a member of the UDance Executive Board for the past
three years. My personal experience with the QUEST program was
amazing! Like me, you will gain lasting friendships, and they will be
some of the best days of your freshman year. I was hesitant about
going to school early for this program, but once I arrived on
campus I quickly had a change of heart. Since QUEST and my
continued involvement BHLP, I have gotten to listen to amazing
speakers, network with very successful people (even landed my
dream job this summer in California!), and travel all over the
United States. From New Orleans to North Carolina to Puerto Rico,
BHLP has given me so many great opportunities to thoroughly enjoy my time on campus, as well as gain
valuable skills that I can take into my professional career. You all made a life-changing decision to be a
part of this program and I can't wait to meet every one of you this August!
Julie Millisky, Senior Peer Mentor
Hi Questers! I’m Julie Millisky, a UD-lovin' senior from Somerdale,
New Jersey who cannot stop eating ice-cream and gets way too
excited during Catchphrase. I’m a Public Policy major and I love
UD so much that I decided to do grad school here as well. I am
honored (and PSYCHED) to be a Senior Peer Mentor after three
years of being borderline obsessed with QUEST. On campus I’m
involved with Tier 4 of BHLP, the Delaware Environmental
Institute, and the Freshmen Year Seminar Program (feel free to
ask me about Common Reader questions). As cliché as it sounds,
joining the Blue Hen Leadership Program was the best decision
I've ever made. My experiences with BHLP have ranged from
rekindling my passion for the environment while hiking through
waterfalls during a service trip in Puerto Rico, to creating a
workshop about empowering women leaders after being inspired
by a leadership conference in Disney World. This program will open so many doors for you and lead you
to unbelievable opportunities and personal connections. The QUEST program has impacted my life in
profoundly positive ways and I could not be more excited to share this upcoming experience with you!!
Becca Egge
Hi! My name is Rebecca Egge but PLEASE call me Becca! I am from
Barrington, Rhode Island (Small State Pride). Currently I am a junior at
the University of Delaware with an Exercise Science Major with Minors
in Strength and Conditioning and Health, Physical Activity, and
Disability Studies. I love to go to watch and play every sport except
soccer (my feet are not that coordinated). Challenge me to anything
and prepare to be beat. On campus, aside from being a part of BHLP, I
am also in National Residence Hall Honorary, Greek Life, and Love
Your Melon. This summer will be the best one yet! Starting with
multiple beach trips, then a few internships, and closing it all out with
QUEST. My Favorite part of QUEST is the boat race because it helps to
form relationships and being by the water never hurts. Can’t wait to
meet you all!
Adam Goedecke
My name is Adam Goedecke and I am from Newtown, Pennsylvania. I
am currently a rising junior and a Mass Communications major here at
UD. When it comes to clubs here on campus, I am mostly involved
with BHLP, Student Literacy Council, and the Public Relations Student
Society. I love being a part of QUEST and BHLP, I have made so many
connections through these programs and I am so excited to come back
and be a part of the strong community that QUEST builds. QUEST was
a huge help to my college transition and I can’t wait to come back and
get started! Through BHLP I was able to go Puerto Rico during winter
break of my freshman year. It was such an amazing experience to do
community service and learn about a different culture while also
building relationships with other students in the program. I spent this
summer in New York City working at Major League Baseball doing a
Public Relations Internship for the Office of the Commissioner. I love
sports from almost all aspects, mostly basketball and football, and growing up right outside of
Philadelphia, I am a die-hard Philly sports fan.
Haley Graham
What's up QUEST?! My name is Haley Graham and I am so excited to be
one of your Peer Mentors! Coming from Southampton, New Jersey, I'm
a sophomore music education major. When I'm not rehearsing or in the
BHLP office, you can catch me napping, Netflix binging Friends, or
eating a dozen Insomnia cookies by myself and then regretting it. I'm so
incredibly excited to meet all of you, see you cool kids August 23rd!!
Matt Hopkins
Hey everyone, my name is Matt Hopkins and I am a junior from Glen
Ridge, New Jersey. I am a Business Marketing major and an
International Business minor. The Blue Hen Leadership program is an
amazing, unique organization that I am proud to be a part of. Beyond
completing Tier-2 of BHLP, I have been involved in the Student
Government Association, A member of the National Society of
Collegiate Scholars, and Greek Life. QUEST allowed me to learn about
my character and myself as a leader and introduced me to some of my
best friends on campus! Through BHLP, I had to opportunity to attend a
leadership conference in Orlando and the Baltimore Alternative Spring
Break trip to continue my leadership journey. My favorite part of QUEST
has to be the amazing relationships that are built throughout the
experience. Participating in QUEST was one of the greatest experiences
of my freshman year and you too will have an amazing experience!
Harry Landfield
My name is Harry Landfield and I am from Roxbury, New Jersey. I am a
rising sophomore Chemical Engineering major in the Honors Program.
Outside of participating in Tier 2 of the Blue Hen Leadership Program, I
am the Community Outreach Chair for the University of Delaware
chapter of the American Institute of Chemical Engineers. Additionally, I
enjoy improv comedy and am in the Unfiltered Improv club, an allinclusive comedy group on campus. I am a huge sports fan, and being
out-of-market does not prevent me from still following the Mets and
Jets. This summer, I am working as a specialist at a science and
technology sleepaway camp for grades 5-10, leading electives in
chemistry and engineering. I am extremely excited to be a Quest Peer
Mentor. QUEST helped me make the connections that shaped my
freshman year, and I can’t wait to help another group of QUESTers start
off their college lives right!
Mark Mandala
Hi QUESTers, I’m Mark Mandala, a sophomore exercise science major
from Staten Island, New York. I am involved in both BHLP and Greek life
on campus, and hope to join the Physician Assistant Club next
semester. In my free time I enjoy playing sports, and watching movies
(Remember the Titans and Lone Survivor are my favorites). Over the
summer I will be working for a program in New York City that gives
employment to underprivileged teenagers, and going to the beach as
often as possible. I cannot wait for QUEST to start, it was one of the
best experiences of my freshman year, and where I met most of my
best friends. I cannot wait for all the QUESTers to begin this chapter of
their lives and make new friends of their own.
Katie Manta
Hey everyone! My name is Katie Manta and I am coming at you from
Downingtown, PA. I am a Communications Interest major with a
Psychology minor. I’m pumped about spending my summer working as
a camp counsellor and coaching lacrosse. When I’m not at camp or on
the lacrosse field, you can find me at the beach reading and relaxing. I
will be returning as a sophomore this fall. I’m involved in Greek life
and BHLP. I can’t wait to meet all the Questers and be part of the
amazingness that is Quest!
Aidan Moran
Hi guys! My name’s Aidan Moran and I am a Junior Exercise Science
major from Ashland, MA. On campus I’m involved in BHLP, UDance,
Greek life, and yoga club. I am passionate about health and fitness
and express this passion through practicing yoga, strength training,
and healthy cooking and eating. This summer I am teaching swim
lessons and lifeguarding at a summer camp in my hometown and
volunteering at local physical therapy clinic. My favorite part about
QUEST is the bonds and relationships the students are able to make
and maintain between themselves and also the Peer Mentors. I am
extremely excited to accompany this year’s QUESTers on their
transition into college and through their leadership development. I
aim to assist this year’s QUEST class, my group especially, in any way I
can in their journey this year. I can’t wait for all the great people and
experience QUEST 2016 has to offer!
Julia O’Reilly
Hi everyone! My name is Julia O’Reilly and I am a junior
communications major from Topsfield, MA (yes, that makes me an
avid Tom Brady fan). You will most likely run into me on campus at a
Greek life event, BHLP workshops, or eating anything and everything
on Main Street. Aside from being in BHLP and a sorority, I am also a
member of Care About Living More, or C.A.L.M., which is a meditation
club on campus. My favorite part about QUEST is the visible growth
that everyone experiences throughout the week; whether it’s the
moment they finally speak in front of a large group or making it all the
way to the top of a rock wall, the excitement and pride on their face is
not easy to forget and really makes the journey worthwhile. Through
my own QUEST experience, I met my best friends on campus, and I
can honestly say I couldn’t have asked for a better start to college life.
This program has the power to challenge you, teach you, and provide
you with the tools to make your time at UD worthwhile. That being said, bring on QUEST 2016!
Sean Robertson
Hey QUESTers, I’m Sean Robertson. I am a junior Communications
and Psychology double major with minors in Journalism and
Economics. I currently am writing this on the beach in Old Lyme, CT,
where I’m from. I really want to be working for a non-profit
company in Public Relations. My favorite activity that I did during my
freshman year was a service trip over spring break to New Bern,
North Carolina with BHLP. Ask me all about it; I will give you a
summary of the full experience. During the summer you can catch
me scooping ice cream by the beach, hiking or camping. I’m really
excited for QUEST 2016 and can’t wait to meet all of you!
Mark Schuler
Hey Everyone! I’m Mark Schuler and I’m local from Wilmington, DE,
just 35 minutes away from Newark. I’m a Junior Communications
major here at UD and aside from BHLP, I’m super involved in the
Student Centers Programming Advisory Board, also known as SCPAB.
Aside from that, I also do yoga at a studio on Main Street. I love
traveling with my family and I also cannot wait for my third year at
Firefly Music Festival this summer. Aside from that, I’ll be working at
UD’s office of Economic and Innovative Partnerships working with a
non-profit in Delaware. You guys don’t know this now, but you all
signed up for a truly life-changing experience by choosing QUEST.
I’ve made incredible friends through the program and BHLP has
opened many doors for me as well.
Jayme Soyak
Hey Everyone! My name is Jayme Soyak and I’m from Ridgefield,
Connecticut. I am a junior and am majoring in Geography with
minors in Entrepreneurial Studies and Environmental Humanities. I
love to read and write and spend as much time outdoors as I can,
including hiking in White Clay Creek and practicing yoga. On
campus, I am in Tier Three of BHLP, a member of the Office of
Student Conduct Appellate Board, an EnvironMentor for the
college of Earth, Ocean, and Environment, a member of a sorority,
and a member of the C.A.L.M. Club. I love keeping busy and being
active on campus and I can’t wait to see you all get involved and
find your place here at UD. This summer I am living in Newark and
working on an urban farm in Wilmington with teens aging out of
foster care to help and do research as a Service Learning Scholar. I
can’t wait for QUEST to begin and am so excited to meet you all
and see you break barriers. QUEST helped me transition into
college and I found my best friends through this program and I can’t wait to see you all do the same.