Lake Charles, Louisiana – April 30, 2018
SOWELA Technical Community College’s Process Technology team placed third at the 2018 North American Process Technology Alliance (NAPTA) Troubleshooting National Competition held at River Parishes Community College in Gonzales, Louisiana. The competition is designed to address the need for critical thinking and problem-solving skills in the field of Process Operations.
SOWELA’s team members including Kevin Clopton, Daniel Platt, and Della Keeley first competed in a qualifying round on campus using a web-based Learning Management System. Achieving top ten team status, they then traveled with their SOWELA Coach and Instructor, Brady Gentry, to Gonzales to compete using a PC-based dynamic process simulator, winning third out of 32 teams competing nationwide.
NAPTA, the standard bearer of the PTEC curriculum, audits PTEC degree programs in North America and endorses those that meet its criteria. To be granted NAPTA endorsement, a college must teach specific learning objectives, establish and maintain an active industry-based advisory committee, receive a successful audit of its program from NAPTA members, and remain in good standing with the organization.
“We are extremely proud of our Process Technology students and faculty who participated in the regional and national troubleshooting competitions. These efforts and accomplishments demonstrate the direction SOWELA’s Process Technology program is heading towards in being regionally and nationally competitive in preparing students to enter the job market. We are so very proud to have dedicated faculty and students represent our institution,” said David Lafargue, Dean of the School of Industrial Technology.
SOWELA’s Process Technology program is a two-year Associate of Applied Science (AAS) degree. Classes are taught at the main campus in Lake Charles and at the Lake Charles Boston Academy for high school students. Applicants may apply to enroll in the traditional four-semester program or the 16-week Fast Track program, designed for students that have already completed an Associate’s degree or higher. Enrollment in the Fast Track program has limited seating and is competitive in nature.
For information, visit www.sowela.edu/programs/process-technology/ or contact the Process Technology department by calling 337-421-6595.
ABOUT NAPTA TSC II
The competition was originally funded by the National Science Foundation through their Advanced Technological Education program. To ensure its future, the North American Process
Technology Alliance (NAPTA), with industry support, has assumed stewardship of the competition for all future events. The event was developed for a target audience of advance college students who are currently enrolled in a Process Technology program. The Process
Technology program teaches operation skills required in industries such as petrochemical, power generation, pulp and paper, pharmaceuticals, food & beverage, and related fields.
ABOUT SOWELA
SOWELA Technical Community College provides traditional, distance, and lifelong learning experiences and awards associate degrees, technical diplomas, and certificates that empower learners in transfer, career and technical education to excel as globally competitive citizens. The College has been educating the region’s workforce for 80 years.