Midland College students earned top honors at the Third Annual Warren CAT Future Tech Challenge, taking home first place overall and securing the title of Top Performing College in a field of competitive regional programs.

The Warren CAT Future Tech Challenge is an invitation-only event that mirrors the company’s internal technician competition. Designed to spotlight top-performing diesel technology students, the challenge brought together elite teams from Midland College, Odessa College, South Plains College, Texas State Technical College, and Amarillo College. Each school fielded five of its most skilled students to compete in a series of hands-on challenges simulating real-world diagnostic and repair scenarios.

Competition events tested students’ mechanical expertise and critical thinking skills across multiple stations, including hydraulics, engine performance, electrical systems, failure analysis, and more.

Representing Midland College were Felix Campos, Fidel Gardea, Royce Knight, Rene Velazquez, and Raul Velazquez. Not only did MC's team outperform the competition, but all five Midland College students placed in the top 10 for cumulative scores.

Campos claimed first place overall, and Rene Velazquez finished in fifth. Both received professional-grade tool sets.

“We’re incredibly proud of these students and what they’ve accomplished,” said Erick Gutierrez, department chair of the college’s Applied Technology. “Their performance in this high-pressure environment reflects the hands-on preparation they receive every day in our diesel technology program. This win also highlights the demand for well-trained technicians in today’s workforce, and Midland College is proud to be a part of that pipeline.”

A statement from Midland College said it thanks Warren CAT for hosting the competition and supporting the next generation of technicians through this industry-relevant opportunity.

Midland College is located in Midland, Texas in the Permian Basin of west Texas.