While she was a student at Appalachian State University majoring Interior Design (BS) with a minor in building science, Megan Everhart ’16 immersed herself in the opportunities around her. She participated in projects as diverse as an international lighting competition for a Malaysian restaurant, created 3D renderings of a 19th century farmhouse for restoration and designed a train station that incorporated a historic building along with modern shops and restaurants.

Now as an interior designer at Overcash Demmit Architects in Charlotte, she’s seen the many skills she acquired at Appalachian come together in a job she loves.

“I’m grateful for the core things I learned in classes – how to work on a team with people who have different strengths and personalities.”

Her mentor at Appalachian, Dr. Jeanne Mercer-Ballard, an associate professor of interior design, helped Everhart with her portfolio and her senior project and also recommended her for an internship at Overcash Demmit. That led to a full-time job offer.

Recently Everhart worked on a team that was asked to design a small office for a Facebook data group in Charlotte.

The team suspended varied sizes of acoustical tile “clouds” at different heights to balance the sound levels and add visual interest. For the floor, they used two different types of carpet tile that echoed the cloud patterns above.

Everhart has worked on offices, hotels, restaurants, small business and medical offices. She’s called on to do everything from completing construction documents and creating architectural renderings to picking out finishes and furnishings.

“There’s so much variety in the work,” she said about her position. “I’m not really doing the same thing every minute of the day.”

She appreciates the training she received at Appalachian on the technical aspects of computer programs, how to create renderings and how to implement a project from beginning to end, as well as the soft skills she developed.