Matt DeGeeter, a senior from Morton, Ill., and Carolyn Pike, a junior from Indianapolis, finished second and third, respectively, in the collegiate competition.

"The fact that two Ball State students placed so high is validation of the hard work they put forth," said Janet Fick, a Ball State interior design instructor.

Design professionals judged the students' projects based on function, building code compliance, professionalism and creativity.

"A project like this will leave you with a lot of late nights and no sleep," Pike said. "In the end the rewards are worth the effort."

More than 60 students from Ball State, Purdue, Indiana State, and Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis participated in the competition.

By Luke Brown