A Ball State University freshman has designed a billboard that will greet March Madness college basketball teams and fans on Interstate 70 near the Indianapolis International Airport.
The Indiana Sports Corporation chose Abigail Clone’s design as the winner of its March Madness Billboard Contest. Clone, 19, of Fishers, Ind., is a graphic design/visual communication major in the Ball State College of Fine Arts.
“I am so honored to be a part of this, especially as a freshman,” Abigail said.
The billboard was installed on Monday, March 8, and will be up through April 5. Motorists driving east on Interstate 70 between the Indianapolis International Airport and downtown Indianapolis will see it near the Holt Road exit.
Not only did Abigail come up with the winning design, she also developed the billboard’s tagline, “YOU ARE HERE.”
“I was thinking about when I get to a vacation spot or an event, and how the GPS on your phone says ‘You’ve arrived at your destination,’ ” she explained. “I wanted to draw from that sense of excitement.”
Abigail learned about the contest through an email from Heather Myers, the College of Fine Arts administrative coordinator. She said Myers regularly updates students on opportunities off campus. Abigail submitted her design in mid-February and learned she had won on March 4.
Abigail said she had received an outpouring of support from faculty in the College of Fine Arts.
Winning the contest was even more meaningful because of her family’s long love affair with March Madness, Abigail said. The family of four has a tradition of filling out brackets every year and competing against each other. In fact, Abigail’s father, Jon Clone, even fills out brackets on behalf of their two dogs, Maddy and Winny.
“I did this to honor my dad,” she said.