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Courtesy Image by LIT
Lamar Institute of Technology (LIT) announced the success of its students at the North America Process Technology Association National Troubleshooting Competition, held at the College of the Mainland in Texas City on April 18-19.
Out of a field of 24 teams, LIT's Process Operating students showcased their skills and dedication, with two teams securing top positions in the prestigious competition. Collin Canada, Brittan Netherland and Jacob Garza emerged as the first-place team, while Caden Castilaw, Leonardo Rodriguez and Patrick Clay achieved a second-place finish.
The competition, comprised of four rounds of simulated problems on various units, evaluates participants on crucial aspects of troubleshooting, including safety, efficiency, communication, profitability and teamwork. Teams were challenged to solve complex problems on units they had never operated before, underscoring the depth of their technical expertise and adaptability.
"The fact that LIT placed the top two teams is incredible. We are immensely proud of our students' achievements and their representation of LIT on a national stage," said Marty Day, faculty advisor. “The problems are not revealed to the teams until the night before the competition begins. Having to troubleshoot units you have never operated is very difficult for a seasoned operator, much less a student.”
The intense preparation, which included regular meetings and rigorous practice sessions, played a pivotal role in the students' remarkable performance.
"These students and I started working on our new simulator in February and met three times a week to hone their skills,” said Day. “Our two teams are comprised of incredible young people who deserve all of the recognition they receive.”
The recognition for the students is at 2 p.m. Tuesday, April 30 in the ExxonMobil PATC Building Room 102.
For more information about LIT’s process operating program, visit https://lit.edu/programs/technology/process-operating-technology/associate-of-applied-science-aas.