MUNCIE, Ind. -- A competition to design enclosures to protect plummeting pumpkins was a smashing success.

Ball State University's first Pumpkin Drop was open to anyone who wanted to participate. The contest was organized by Scott Warner, an assistant professor of industry and technology.

The goal of Wednesday's competition was to design an enclosure to protect a pumpkin from damage when it was dropped from a height of 50 feet.

Fifteen teams participated, but only three teams' pumpkins survived. One entry was disqualified for using water. Winning teams won cash prizes.

"It helps to understand the structure of a pumpkin and know how it disperses impact," Warner said. "Think about air bags in cars and sand-filled barrels around concrete barriers. If you understand those principles, it's easier to understand how to design a device to protect the pumpkin."

Chuck Cavert, a Warsaw high school design teacher, brought 12 students to compete.

"The most innovative design from my students contains an inner tube on top, two-stage foam and a 5-gallon bucket," he said.