Salma Sanchez Acevedo leaves Tohopekaliga High School with a plan for college — and a career in digital design.
How can she be so sure? Because she’s a two-time Adobe national finalist, it’s runner-up last month, and is set up for Valencia College through Osceola Prosper, which will cover her tuition as a member of the Class of 2022.
Acevedo took second place at the Adobe Certified Professional U.S. National Championship in Dallas last month. The contest was a nation-wide competition testing high school students design skills in Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator and InDesign.
The second-place finish came with a $1,500 prize, and a spot in the World Championship in Anaheim July 24-27.
Acevedo qualified last year, but the event was done virtually, with the pandemic still in full force. So this year she had to meet up in-person with hundreds of other students.
“Definitely, it was more intimidating in Dallas,” she said.
To enter Nationals, students must pass their Adobe certified professional exam, then enter an original design project. Acevedo, along with seven of her THS classmates, were chosen for Nationals — the only students in the state of Florida to do so, Mohess said.
“I didn’t know that until it wrapped up,” she said.
Along with Acevedo, Sierra Aya Park, Nicole Bolanos, Aiyana Cremisio, Abigail Isaac, Luendy Melo-Oller, Jasiah Sanchez and Nathaniel Torres qualified for the Nationals.
They are all students in Jenny Mohess’ graphic and digital design Career and Technical Education (CTE) track, one of 13 at Tohopekaliga High School. The program is in its fourth year, since THS opened in 2018. Acevedo joined in her sophomore year after moving here from the Dominican Republic.
“I’ve been amazed what it’s like, I never knew I’d be doing what I’m doing now when I came here,” said Acevedo, who will attend Valencia for free in the fall and be a part of its digital design program.
Mohess, who worked for Apple and Microsoft before teaching at Valencia, and then THS, said that Nationals is a “live competition,” with actual clients providing projects and their specs.
Her students, who have formed a graphic design agency and do visuals work for the school and district, get good practice during the year,” Mohess said.
“During the year, they did industry projects, and 20 were able to complete work they could submit for Nationals,” she said.
Acevedo’s assignment in Dallas was to design advertising for a company that provides prosthetics to children whose families can’t afford them.
“I was confused at first. I tried sketching it out, but I can’t really draw freehand,” she said. “I knew the outcome had to catch the eye, and kids have to like it.”
But, she powered through, even after misplacing her glasses at the end of the competition.
“I was nervous about how it turned out, because I couldn’t see the detail,” Acevedo said. “When I found out I was a winner I couldn’t believe it.
“I can’t wait to go to Anaheim. I’m looking forward to meeting new people and experiencing new things.”
Mohess admitted she wasn’t much of a student at her student’s age.
“Students today aren’t students like we were,” she said. “Some may be smart, but not academic. Then adults start doubting them. These programs prove what they can do when they find something that will interest them and point to a career.”
