When a sudden health challenge forced Bradley Huntoon to put his paramedic dreams on hold, he didn't let it stop him from finding a new passion.

Instead, he dove into the world of information technology and, in the process, turned adversity into achievement.

Now, with two Wake Tech IT degrees, several skills awards and leadership experience on his resume, Huntoon is proof that sometimes the best opportunities come from unexpected detours.

"I discovered I had a knack for IT," said Huntoon, who graduated with associate in applied science degrees in Network Management in December 2024 and Cloud Infrastructure in May 2025. "And here I am."

Beyond academics, Huntoon was a campus leader at Wake Tech. As a peer tutor, he helped IT students prepare for certification exams. His connection with the college's Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) organization opened up the opportunity for a statewide leadership role, serving as executive vice president for the North Carolina FBLA Collegiate chapter in 2024-25. It also opened up the opportunity to showcase his hard work and expertise at the 2025 FBLA Collegiate National Leadership Conference in Dallas, Texas.

Competing against nearly 200 participants from across the country, he earned a national championship by completing a demanding 100-question technology exam in less than half the allotted time. He also won several state and national SkillsUSA awards while at Wake Tech.

"I feel validated, proud and thankful for the support that led me here," he said.

Huntoon's success at Wake Tech extends beyond the classroom and competitions. He's grateful for faculty encouragement that helped him secure an internship as a systems reliability engineer with Nutanix, a cloud computing company. He hopes to transition into a full-time position while giving back to Wake Tech.

"The people at Wake Tech are amazing," he said. "From advisors to teachers, faculty, staff and students, almost everyone I've interacted with is focused on growth and supporting each other. My long-term goal is to continue to support future generations of students in the same way Wake Tech supported me."