Seven Winston-Salem State University (WSSU) student-athletes recently took their creativity to new heights at the 2025 Adobe MAX Conference in Los Angeles, California. The group — Ahmad Raoul (Golf), Alaina Moody (Women's Track & Field), TaKara Ware (Softball), and Sydney Sharpe, Aneya Spears, Tre Pickett-Johnson, and William Caldwell of the Powerhouse Red Team — joined thousands of creators, designers, and innovators from around the world for one of the largest creative conferences in the industry.
The trip, held October 27–30, was planned and organized through a collaborative effort by Dr. Wanda White-Walker, Director of the Center for Innovative and Transformative Instruction (CITI) and an Adobe Thought Leader at WSSU; Sonya Hurt, Senior Associate Athletics Director for Administration and Senior Woman Administrator (SWA); Keith Quick, Graduate Assistant for WSSU Athletics; and the WSSU Department of Athletics.
Adobe MAX is known as the "Creativity Conference" — an immersive experience where attendees learn from industry leaders, explore cutting-edge creative technology, and connect with innovators shaping the future of design, storytelling, and digital media. For WSSU's student-athletes, this opportunity represented more than just professional development — it was a chance to expand their voices, explore creative storytelling, and see how digital tools can amplify their experiences both on and off the field.
Each student-athlete attended sessions led by creative professionals in photography, video editing, branding, and digital storytelling, gaining inspiration to bring back to campus. From discovering new Adobe tools to networking with creators from across the world, the experience allowed WSSU's student-athletes to see how creativity plays a vital role in leadership, marketing, and athletic storytelling.
This initiative reflects WSSU's continued partnership with Adobe Creative Campus, reinforcing the university's commitment to equipping students with digital literacy and creative confidence. For these seven student-athletes, Adobe MAX served as both a classroom and a launchpad — sparking new ideas that will continue to enhance WSSU Athletics' creative presence and inspire peers across campus.
In addition to experiences like Adobe MAX, Adobe has offered the Student-Athlete Micro-Internship (SAMI) Program to WSSU student-athletes, providing hands-on opportunities to develop professional and creative skills through short-term projects with Adobe professionals. A multitude of WSSU student-athletes have taken advantage of this opportunity, leading to remarkable success stories. Two WSSU alumni, Dominique Graves (Football) and Olivia Stevens (Volleyball), turned their SAMI experiences into full-time roles with Adobe. Graves now serves as an Adobe Creative Content Producer, while Stevens works as an Associate Product Manager. Both excelled as standout student-athletes at WSSU, continuing to represent the university's legacy of excellence and innovation.
As WSSU continues to invest in its student-athletes' growth, opportunities like Adobe MAX and the SAMI Program highlight how innovation, athletics, and creativity intersect — shaping well-rounded leaders ready to make their mark on the world.
