Maryland Made: Terps Take On NYC In 2026 Career Exposure Tour
Hear from some of the 14 student-athletes who grew their networks during Maryland Made’s recent trip.
By Brady Ruth, Staff Writer
6/26/2026
Maryland Made recently took 14 Terrapin student-athletes along for its fifth-annual Career Exposure Tour in New York City in early June. The Terps were able to expand their networks, gain knowledge about several career path options, and explore the city that hosted them.
“With New York City being a place I would like to end up, I found the trip very helpful,” gymnast Maddie Komoroski said. “It helped open my eyes to different fields I would have never thought to pursue, while also gaining professional development skills.”
The highlight of the five-day trip was an event hosted by the University of Maryland Alumni Association. Through the group’s Maryland in Manhattan: The Future of AI and Tech Across Industries networking event, student-athletes were able to engage with alumni from the area in addition to listening to an interesting panel discussion.
“I had an amazing experience on the NYC Career Exposure Tour,” golfer Emily McKee said. “I learned so much from all of the different site visits, and it was super special to meet so many Terp alumni! I learned a lot about what careers interest me and what it takes to get there, as well as using being a student athlete to my advantage when looking for jobs!”
Upon arriving in NYC, the 14 student-athletes — Keyari James, Ogechi Uzoukwu, Nathan Perry, Ava McKennie, Maddie Vasilios, Sarah Walker, Layla Hammer, Nate Shields, Emily McKee, Logan Buckmon, Fiona Carter, Calvin Kilgallon, Mia Mitchell, and Maddie Komoroski — worked through icebreakers, led by Maryland Made staffers Sydney Anderson, Daeze Alaeze-Garbo, and Colby Wilson, allowing the student-athletes to practice their public speaking skills and build their confidence for the networking events.
“The trip was incredible,” football’s Keyari James said. “It was a good environment for self-examination and growth. I became really comfortable with everyone on the trip, which I think was well done through icebreakers. I loved seeing the city, and had really productive free time exploring and bonding with the other athletes. I found a few of the sites really interesting, and could see myself pursuing something in some of the fields. I felt like I learned a lot, and gained confidence in speaking out and meeting people.”
Over the rest of the week, the Terps traveled to several sites and explored potential paths within various companies. They were able to speak with professionals from the FBI, L’Oreal, Morgan Stanley, the Fashion Institute of Technology, The Team NYC, Luminary, and CVS Health, creating important conversations about potential career options after college.
“I think that it was such an eye-opening experience because within each site that we visited I was able to find something that I was interested in which shocked me honestly, as someone who was so tunnel visioned on one career path,” hurdler Ogechi Uzoukwu said. “It has allowed me to discover more and to learn that I like more than just one career path.”
The student-athletes returned to College Park with new ideas and opportunities fresh in their minds. The 2026 Maryland Made Career Exposure Trip was a smashing success, the latest initiative to ensure college student-athletes leave UMD with the tools they need to thrive after sports.
