I chose to attend UMD because it’s one of the few schools that offers an undergraduate program in Fire Protection Engineering. What attracted me even more were the numerous opportunities available here, from the extensive alumni network to the advanced research facilities. The biggest factor for me was the chance to be part of a large university, where I could meet people from diverse backgrounds and explore various disciplines. This broadens my perspective and helps me better understand what I want to incorporate into my future Fire Protection Engineering career.

 

One of my best classroom experiences was during an ENFP250 group assignment, where we researched a fire that significantly shaped the field of fire protection engineering. Throughout the course, we learned about various factors that can inhibit safe egress, potentially leading to injury or death. By studying the history of major fires and the lessons learned from them, it became clear just how far fire protection has advanced to become what it is today.

ENFP250: Introduction to Life Safety Analysis

 

STAT400: Applied Probability and Statistics I

 

Research Intern for XPrize Challenge under FPE department
Korean Student Association
Volunteer EMT
Coed Flag Football

 

One of my favorite on-campus events is Maryland Day. It allows me to walk around and see the entire campus community, bringing together students, faculty, staff, and even alumni. There are so many demonstrations, games, and performances that showcase the diversity of UMD. It creates a fun, bright, carnival-like feel at the McKeldin Mall that only happens once a year.

 

One of my favorite activities this semester is working as a research intern for the XPrize Challenge that UMD is participating in. I’m part of a subgroup in the Fire Protection Department, where we study, learn, and experiment with possible suppression systems for the challenge. I have the opportunity to collaborate with staff, faculty, peers, and even the department head, and I’m very excited to see what this semester will bring while working with this amazing team.

 

The coolest engineering experience I had was creating student-led projects for a fire suppression system in my ENFP101 class. A group of us spent several weeks planning and learning about effective fire suppression techniques using limited materials. We built a mock room to simulate real-life fire scenarios and conducted multiple trials in the fire labs. My team designed a unique solution using a balloon filled with baking powder to extinguish the fire. We tested this method several times, refining it after each trial. Through our tests and by watching our peers tackle the same challenge, my team learned a lot about the different ways fires can be suppressed.