(ROSENBERG, Texas) – Five Automotive students from Texas State Technical College’s Fort Bend County campus are shifting their focus from daily diagnostics to competition as they prepare for the 2026 SkillsUSA Texas Postsecondary Leadership and Skills Conference.
The event will be held April 8-11 in Corpus Christi, marking the first time the new program will have students competing at the state level.
Representing the Fort Bend County campus in the Automotive Service Technology contest are Ethan Biater, of Huntsville; Gilbert Flores, of Rosenberg; George Obmann, of Richmond; and Erika Sacco and Roy Weeks, both of Sugar Land.
Biater, who is studying for an associate degree, said learning to master the complex mechanics of an engine has been a challenging part of his preparation.
“There are different ways components have to interact with each other to make the engine work,” he said. “The instructors have given us advice on specific techniques to use to work around those challenges.”
Obmann, who is also pursuing an associate degree, approaches his lab work by observing how other students tackle complex assignments.
“I pay attention to how they resolve it,” he said. “This is for my own knowledge, but it also gives me an upper hand for the competition.”
Sacco, who is also working toward an associate degree, manages scenarios by tuning out distractions.
“I ignore outside noise,” she said. “I figure out what resources I have available to begin resolving an issue, then I proceed to problem-solve.”
Automotive instructor and SkillsUSA advisor Chad Hanson said the faculty has been simulating the intensity of the competition floor within the labs.
“The students have been focusing on diagnostics, precision repair techniques, electrical systems and time management,” he said. “By pushing them to troubleshoot complex, real-world scenarios, we ensure they can compete at a high level.”
SkillsUSA is a professional organization focused on employability, leadership and technical skills that help college students pursue successful careers and be part of a skilled workforce. SkillsUSA has more than 100 specific contests at the state and national events in which students can compete, from 3D Visualization and Animation to Welding Sculpture.
For more information on SkillsUSA Texas, go to skillsusatx.org.
Registration for the summer and fall semesters is now underway at TSTC. For more information, visit TSTC.edu.