News

Erica Nowicki, an interior design student at Baker College of Clinton Township, placed 4th in the GE 2008 Dream Kitchen Best Student Charette Design contest. A national annual event sponsored by General Electric, the Baker senior won $2,500 for her original kitchen design.

“Erica is an extremely talented and dedicated student with a bright future ahead of her,” said Lynnette Zaner, director of design technology, Baker College of Clinton Township. “She is to be congratulated for this prestigious and well-deserved national award.”

Students who entered the competition were given a floor plan of a kitchen and a three-hour window in which to create a design that adhered to the National Kitchen and Bath Association’s (NKBA) 31 Kitchen Planning Guidelines and Graphic and Presentation Standards.

“In addition to adhering to the way NKBA requires plans to be drawn, dimensioned, noted and specified, I had to make sure I delegated enough time to certain aspects of the design so the end result would be something substantially complete,” said Nowicki. “It was a wonderful experience and I am grateful to Baker College for providing the educational foundation that prepared me for this event.”

A St. Clair Shores resident, Nowicki holds an associate degree in interior design and a certificate in kitchen and bath design from Baker College of Clinton Township. She is currently working toward a bachelor’s degree in interior design at the Clinton Township campus and expects to graduate June 2009. She also works at a “professional and quality-driven” kitchen and bath-remodeling firm in Washington, Mich.

Earlier this year, Nowicki and four other Baker College of Clinton Township students participated in an on-campus Charette offered by NKBA and sponsored by General Electric. Nowicki placed first, and she and the second, third and fourth place winners were then eligible to participate in GE’s national competition.

In addition, Nowicki also received an outstanding student award this year. Sponsored by Toto, the largest plumbing manufacturer in the world, the award recognizes the student at each NKBA-accredited school who has demonstrated the most exceptional achievement in kitchen and bath design. Nominated for the award by Lynnette Zaner, Nowicki received $450 and a plaque for display at Baker College.