Student Success
Art and Poetry Excellence
RALEIGH, N.C. (March 7, 2025) – Three Wake Tech students and one staff member proved their artistic talents by winning honors in the statewide 2025 National Career Development Association (NCDA) Art & Poetry Contest.
This year's theme, "Creating My Career Path: Embracing Change in My Journey," encouraged participants to showcase career exploration, personal growth and how they embrace change. The contest was open to students as well as adult practitioners.
Wake Tech winners are:
- 1st Place Art (Standard) – Garla Glover-Smith, Career Services Care Team director, and her daughter Nyla Smith
- 1st Place Art (Digital) – Student Kristi Rivers
- 2nd Place Art (Digital) – Student Danica Bueno
- 3rd Place Poetry – Student Hannah Suehs
The winning entries will be showcased on the NCDA website and featured at the annual Global Career Development Conference in June. Winners will also receive a certificate and a special congratulatory gift from the NCDA. National winners will be announced in late spring.
Wake Tech Career Services invited all students to submit creative work in one of three categories: poetry, art and digital art. A total of 34 submissions were received and judged by a panel of staff members from Career Services and the Care Center. Graphic Design Professor Carla Osborne also assisted with student participation.
"There is something truly special about creating something that didn't exist before, whether it's a poem that stirs emotions or an artwork that sparks reflection," said Ashley Wheeler, Wake Tech success coach who served on the judging panel. "Your submissions prove that creativity is alive and thriving."
NCDA provides professional development, publications, standards and advocacy to practitioners and educators who inspire and empower individuals to achieve their career and life goals. Two Wake Tech staff members serve on the board of NCDA's North Carolina chapter: Johnette Smith as secretary and Ramchandra Athavale as treasurer.
For more information about student support and resources provided by Wake Tech Career Services, please visit careerservices.waketech.edu.
