Four students in the Dean V. White Real Estate Finance Program earned top honors — and a $5,000 prize — for a mixed-use development proposal designed to address affordable housing needs near Purdue University's West Lafayette campus while supporting community services and ministry space.
Jenna Kelsay, Braden Reel, Peter Gray and Nathan Sauve won the Spring Semester Dean V. White Real Estate Development Case Competition after presenting a financially feasible proposal that judges said successfully balanced economic viability with community impact. The winning team was announced April 28, 2026, during the program’s annual end-of-semester barbecue hosted by Mike Eriksen, director of the Dean V. White Real Estate Finance Program.
The students’ proposal centered on a near-campus mixed-use development that included 51 two-bedroom apartments, an onsite childcare center, a 126-space parking garage and dedicated space for a church to continue its ministry at the current location.
Designed primarily for graduate students and married couples — an often-underserved segment of the campus housing market — the development emphasized affordability alongside convenience and community support. The team also proposed below-market rental rates in alignment with the church’s mission to provide affordable family housing.
After a preliminary round, four teams advanced to the competition finals. In addition to the cash prize, the winning team earned yearlong bragging rights among their peers.
The Dean V. White Real Estate Finance Program appreciates the many contributors who helped make the competition possible, including Our Savior Lutheran Church, Purdue Lutheran Ministries, guest lecturers and the competition judges: John Wendt, Russell Hillberry, Gary Schroeder, Chad Spitznagle, Pastor Kristin Rice, Matthew Ohland and Pat Jarboe.
