Meet Rylee Kennedy ’21, geography and environmental studies. By day, Rylee works as a marketing coordinator at Vanguard Building Solutions. However, it’s when she clocks out that the real fun begins. You see, Rylee is also an NFL Cheerleader for the Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles. Take it away, Rylee!

Q: What’s one essential thing you’d want another Retriever to know about you?

A: My name is Rylee, and I graduated in 2021 with a B.A. in geography and environmental studies. I transferred to UMBC my sophomore year and decided to try out for the UMBC Dance Team. I remember practicing in the RAC every day and asking dancers on the team for help leading up to the auditions—I was so nervous! Making the team was one of the best things to have ever happened to me. I met some of my best friends on that team and was able to grow a lot as a person and a dancer. During COVID, having virtual practices kept my sense of community during uncertain times. 

After college, I knew I wanted to continue dancing, and decided to aim for the National Football League. This is my second season as a Philadelphia Eagles Cheerleader, and having the opportunity to follow the Eagles during a historic season has been the best experience a cheerleader could ask for. 

Q: Tell us about someone in the community who has inspired you or supported you, and how they did it.

A: I would not be living my dreams if it weren’t for the amazing coaches and teammates I have had who have pushed me to be a better dancer and professional. By surrounding yourself with those of strong character, you can be inspired to push yourself beyond what you ever thought was imaginable. My teammates encouraged me to try out to be an NFL cheerleader, and my coaches honed my abilities and gave me space to grow. They inspired me then, and they continue to inspire me now as they pursue their careers and continue to express themselves through dance.

Q: What do you like most about being a Philadelphia Eagles cheerleader?

A: This season, I was able to go on a ProTour Military Tour. On tour, I, along with 11 other cheerleaders from five different teams, visited our servicemen and women on base and brought a piece of home to them. When the Eagles flew to New Orleans, I flew to O’ahu, Hawai’i, and spent the big game watching with our military! During my 12 days there, we held cheer clinics for the children of our servicemembers, read to children at school, experienced life as an airman/sailor by testing simulators and touring a C-17, and paid our respects to those tragically lost on December 7 at the Pearl Harbor Memorial.

Left, Rylee Kennedy and other NFL cheerleaders posing with members of the U.S. Armed Forces. Right, Rylee Kennedy and other NFL cheerleaders reading to school students.

We wrapped our trip up with a Super Bowl watch party on base, and so many people were surprised to see an Eagles cheerleader in Hawai’i instead of in the Superdome. I am so thankful for the amazing people I met, the stories I have heard, and the experiences I had during my tour. To me, there was no better way to spend the Super Bowl than with those who are giving the ultimate sacrifice. UMBC instilled a sense of community, empathy, and selflessness that I continue to pay forward to this day.

* * * * *

UMBC’s greatest strength is its people. When people meet Retrievers and hear about the passion they bring, the relationships they create, the ways they support each other, and the commitment they have to inclusive excellence, they truly get a sense of our community. That’s what “Meet a Retriever” is all about.

Learn more about how UMBC can help you achieve your goals.

Organization

We’re looking for passionate, driven students to join our E-Board and help shape the future of entrepreneurship on campus! If you’re ready to innovate, collaborate, and lead, fill out the form and submit it by FEB 28!

We are looking for the following : 

- Treasurer (1)

- Social Media Chair (1)

- Event Coordinators (2)

Link to EBOARD INTEREST FORM: 

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdABMnQt0WxwhQyxRESM2Jqzz9F7tCppSDzV40Tts1GvfOSRw/viewform?usp=dialog 

UMBC has received $1.5 million from the National Institute of Standards and Technology to organize a new UMBC Quantum Science Institute. The funding will support graduate fellowships for students pursuing quantum technology research, the development of new courses and academic programs focused on quantum, and equipment to enhance existing quantum labs and start new ones. 

“This institute is the crowning jewel of several decades of pioneering quantum research here at UMBC,” says QSI director and professor of physics Todd Pittman, Ph.D. ’96, physics. “We have some heavy hitters here who are founders in the field, and the QSI is building on that foundation with a new generation of outstanding quantum-focused faculty.”

Quantum technologies harness the odd behaviors of particles at the atomic level to generate new functions, and are typically much more powerful than their conventional technology counterparts. To approach quantum research from every angle, the institute includes faculty across the College of Natural and Mathematical Sciences and the College of Engineering and IT in physics, mathematics and statistics, computer science, and information systems. They are pursuing quantum research in areas including computing, communications, sensing, information theory, algorithms, and more. “You just can’t do comprehensive quantum research without bringing together engineers, data analysts, computer scientists, mathematicians, and physicists,” Pittman says.

“I am thankful for the support provided by NIST to develop the UMBC Quantum Science Institute under the leadership of Dr. Pittman,” shares Karl V. Steiner, vice president for research and creative achievement. “QSI will catalyze a new quantum research effort, in support of Governor Moore’s ‘Capital of Quantum’ Initiative to position Maryland as a global leader in this rapidly growing field.”

Training quantum-ready workers

In addition to contributing to research innovation and discovery, the institute will train students from a range of backgrounds to take on skilled roles in the booming quantum industry. 

“The quantum industry has exploded,” Pittman says. The quantum technology market was valued at $10 billion in 2021 and is projected to rise to $44 billion by 2028, with potential for much more growth beyond that. In addition to tech giants like Google and IBM, hundreds of start-ups are working in the quantum space. “The market is hungry for quantum-ready workers,” Pittman says, and UMBC is ready to train them.

Sandra Cheng, a fourth-year Ph.D. candidate in physics, is a member of the first cohort of quantum graduate fellows. “Quantum science research, particularly in computing and networking, is quite interdisciplinary by nature,” she says, “and I’m hopeful the QSI will bring together like minds from all the departments involved, so that we’ll be able to contribute towards a greater understanding of quantum science together.”

The QSI leadership team plans to offer social and professional development programming for the fellows. In addition to preparing them for the workforce, the connections they make will help generate a personal network of support, encouraging persistence in a demanding field. Organizing interdisciplinary offerings for the student cohort will also promote collaboration among faculty, Pittman says, adding, “Students are the glue that holds the center together.”

“This new institute is a celebration of our strength and history in quantum research,” Pittman says. “I’m looking forward to seeing QSI unify the quantum researchers on campus in a way that promotes and facilitates interdisciplinary collaboration.”