“When I was looking around the room, I noticed how good everybody was and how the whole room was full of people who knew what they were doing.”
A Francis Tuttle Technology Center student earned national recognition this summer after placing fourth in the 2026 Adobe Certified Professional U.S. National Championship.
Adelaide Burk, who completed the Graphic Design and Communications program in May, was one of 50 students nationwide selected to compete at the championship, held last month in Nashville, Tennessee. To qualify, competitors first earned an Adobe Certified Professional certification and submitted an original creative project for judging.
At the national event, they were given eight hours to complete a real-world design challenge for a nonprofit client.
“When I was looking around the room, I noticed how good everybody was and how the whole room was full of people who knew what they were doing,” Burk said. “It was pretty good just to be there. I wasn’t necessarily expecting to place, so fourth was a nice surprise.”
This marked the second time this year that Burk represented Oklahoma and Francis Tuttle at the national level. She also competed at the 2026 Business Professionals of America (BPA) National Leadership Conference.
Liz Dinkins, Burk’s instructor at Francis Tuttle, said her work ethic and creativity set her apart throughout her time in the program.
“Adelaide is amazing,” Dinkins said. “She always puts her best into every project. She willingly took on projects throughout her two years with me and made them special every time. She’s super creative, kind, and overall just an awesome student. I can’t wait to see what she creates as she moves into the creative industry.”
With her fourth-place finish, Burk earned a $250 Visa gift card. All competitors also received a one-year Adobe Creative Cloud license, which Burk plans to use while working on freelance design projects for clients.