Student Success
Student Wins Prestigious Interior Design Competition
RALEIGH, N.C. (March 29, 2024) - Wake Tech is celebrating a major achievement in the world of interior design!
Cheryl Ellington, a second-year Interior Design student, won first place in the highly competitive Otto Zenke Student Design Competition.
Hosted by the North and South Carolina chapter of the American Society of Interior Designers (ASID), the competition gives students the opportunity to showcase their creativity and talents, as well as the chance to win scholarship money.
Ellington, a member of Wake Tech's ASID chapter who graduates in May, competed against interior design students from colleges and universities in North and South Carolina. Winners were announced at the professional development organization's spring meeting in Charlotte.
"Winning first place in the Commercial Division was thrilling," Ellington said. "Anyone entering a regional or national contest knows how much work it takes to produce and meet all the necessary requirements. It was an incredible and humbling honor to be recognized by the ASID community with this award."
The project required designing an innovative and functional office space for a global advertising agency in Chicago. Ellington created a logo and construction documents that included floor plans, elevations, renderings, furnishings and materials schedules.
"The client wanted the design to convey innovation, creativity, sustainability and well-being/joy to entice team members back to the office post-pandemic," said Ellington.
Ellington's work stood out among a competitive field, showcasing her creativity, technical skills and professional potential. Her performance reflects the level of education and training offered through Wake Tech's Interior Design program, as well as the dedication of faculty and industry mentors who support students in their creative pursuits.
Ellington and the Wake Tech ASID student chapter were each awarded $1,000. The funds will help support the organization's activities and professional development opportunities for students.
Ellington says she's excited about her future working in interior design and is grateful for the support she received at Wake Tech.
"Wake Tech has shown me that it is never too late to pursue a new career," she said. "My previous career in the home furnishing industry was a great springboard to pursue my lifelong passion for interior design. The remarkable and ever-patient instructor and student community at Wake Tech is right there all the way cheering you on! That is probably what I love most."
