By Ainsley Weems | MSU Communication Student Class of 2026
The annual National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) Student Chapters competition, held alongside the International Builders’ Show, challenged teams from 36 universities to design and present a speculative custom home project to a panel of judges acting as potential investors.
Mississippi State’s presenting team included: Madeline Clabert (junior), Reid Hodges (junior), Brady Jones (senior), Jaiden LaBlanc (junior), Makayla Martin (junior) and Tanner Owens (junior), all Building Construction Science majors. Supporting the team were Kevin Osorio (senior), Timothy Cotton (junior), Charles Tobias (sophomore) and Sullivan Lewis (senior) in alternate and mentoring roles.
The students designed a luxury waterfront home for a lot in the Miners Cove neighborhood of Tallapoosa County, Alabama. Their proposal included market research, home design, budgeting and construction scheduling to demonstrate the project’s feasibility and potential return on investment.
“This was a rewarding experience for all of us,” said Tanner Owens. “For us to walk away being ninth in the country means a lot to our team and the Building Construction Science program.”
The project began as a studio assignment in the fall semester of 2025 before faculty selected the group to represent the university at the national competition. The team spent months refining their proposal and practicing their presentation before traveling to Orlando.
“Their work, professionalism, and composure on a national stage made our department and Mississippi State proud,” said Assistant Professor Mohsen Garshasby, Ph.D. “They represented the university with excellence and dedication.”
Click here to watch the students’ presentation at the 2026 NAHB Student competition.