During the 2023 North American Process Technology Alliance (NAPTA) Troubleshooting Skills Competition held in April, San Jacinto College (San Jac) took first and second place at the championship rounds — the college’s sixth consecutive year to participate in the event.
The two-day competition was hosted at the LyondellBasell Center for Petrochemical, Energy & Technology (CPET) on the San Jac campus.
Texas college secures first and second at NAPTA competition
San Jacinto College’s first and second-place team members included, from left: Reuben Llanas, Tyler Duke, Zachary Burch, Luis Alvarez, CPET Department Chair Joseph Zwiercan, Derrick Bryan, Justin Espinoza, G.C. Shah, process technology professor, and Austin Self.
Thirty-two teams from 14 colleges participated in the qualifying rounds of the Troubleshooting Skills Competition VI in March. The 12 highest-scoring, three-member teams from eight colleges were selected to participate in the championship competition.
San Jac team Ravens 2 won the honor of Top Troubleshooting Team, while Ravens 1, also from San Jac, and College of the Mainland’s Shakers, took second and third place, respectively.
The four-round championship competition tested the teams’ troubleshooting skills in recognizing and resolving problems with various industry-related scenarios, and while using computer-based simulation and virtual plant environment software. Students also met with industry professionals and participated in hands-on experiences in CPET’s 19 labs.
On the second day of the competition, team members participated in process-related activities and mock interviews. Students interacted with industry representatives during the mock interview process and while visiting sponsors’ booths.
"I couldn’t be more proud of our San Jac teams," said Jim Griffin, associate vice chancellor and senior VP, CPET. "They worked hard in preparation for this national competition. These seven students are excellent examples of student success."
Leading up to the event, the teams spent months training and preparing under the guidance of professor G.C. Shah. San Jac student Derrick Bryan served as the first-place team’s captain.
Texas college secures first and second at NAPTA competition
Bryan Lacaze, visual communication manager at Systran, assists students in acclimating to the competition software.
"When they called our team’s name, I couldn’t believe it," Bryan said. "I know everyone at San Jac is very proud of us. I’m happy we got to show off the education we have been working so hard to achieve."
After working on heavy equipment for years, Bryan was feeling burnt out. Through recommendations from friends and family he found San Jac.
"After talking to some friends who’d gone to the college, they told me how much they liked what they were doing and the money they were making. I decided to do some research," Bryan said. "I live an hour away and there are closer schools to me, but this one had the best program, hands-on labs and instructors."
Bryan, along with his teammates Luis Alvarez, Justin Espinoza and Austin Self, graduated in May and look forward to their futures in the petrochemical industry.
Currently working as an educator and coach, Self served as the San Jac Process Technology Club chair and maintained a 4.0 GPA during college.
"After the recent economic downturn and with a growing family, my wife and I began to consider careers that were more financially viable," he said. "I wouldn’t mind putting 30 years into an operations job, and then coming back to San Jac as a process technology professor. As for now, I’ve had a few interviews and I hope to secure a job soon."
Texas college secures first and second at NAPTA competition
Derrick Bryan works with team member Austin Self to prepare for the competition.
San Jac’s second place finishers included: Reuben Llanas, Zachary Burch and Tyler Duke.
Colleges that participated in the Troubleshooting Skills Competition included:
- College of the Mainland — Texas
- Houston Community College — Texas
- ITI Technical College — Louisiana
- Lamar Institute of Technology — Texas
- Lamar State College — Texas
- Northern Oklahoma College — Oklahoma
- San Jacinto College — Texas
- Victoria College — Texas
A history of success
Texas college secures first and second at NAPTA competition
Students participate in hands-on activities in the Emerson Simulation Lab at CPET.
San Jacinto College has an established record with the NAPTA competition, with teams also placing first in 2017, 2018 and 2019.
The standard-bearer of process technology curriculum, NAPTA maintains a comprehensive set of process technology textbooks used nationwide, audits U.S. process technology degree programs and endorses those that meet its criteria. Several colleges have received the NAPTA endorsement, including San Jac.
"At NAPTA, we work with industry, educational institutions and other stakeholders to develop a diverse, well-qualified talent pool to meet the needs of our industry partners," said Shannon Burke, NAPTA executive director. "This competition promotes the development of important troubleshooting skills and serves as a venue for advanced process technology students to demonstrate hands-on skills in real-time."
Enhanced problem-solving and troubleshooting skills help with students’ understanding and encourage them to be safer employees and better team players. All these traits are high on the list for employers in their search for entry level employees.
"Troubleshooting skills are necessary for developing a highly competent petrochemical workforce in the U.S.," said Burke. "These skills also help the workforce maintain consistent high-quality production and contribute to the security, safety and regulatory compliance of our facilities."
Through a partnership of industry, educational institutions and others, the NAPTA will support the development of a diverse, qualified process technology talent pool to meet workforce needs in North America, according to its mission statement.
For more information, visit bit.ly/SanJacLYB or call (281) 476-1894; for information about NAPTA, visit naptaonline.org.
