Texas Tech Places Second at Energy Innovation Challenge

A team of Texas Tech University students competed in the 2015 Texas Energy Innovation Challenge (TEIC) competition held Friday, May 1, finishing second overall.

The team consisted of Ebru Unal, a doctoral student in the Department of Petroleum Engineering; James Urban, s master’s student in the Rawls College of Business; Ritesh Sevanthi, a doctoral student; and Soraya Honarparvar, a doctoral student in the Department of Chemical Engineering. Member of the team also include Mrunali Patil, a master’s student in the Department of Petroleum Engineering; Mathew Vandyke, a master’s student in the Department of Media and Communication; and James West, a student in the School of Law. Danny Reible, the Donovan Maddox Distinguished Engineering Chair, sponsored the team as a faculty representative.

Also in attendance were Texas Railroad Commission chairwoman Christi Craddick, commissioners David Porter and Ryan Sitton, and Sen. Charles Perry (R-Lubbock).

The TEIC was created to challenge graduate students to develop research and utilize imagination to solve existing energy problems, according to Texas Tech.

The Texas Tech team earned a $7,500 scholarship. Power Across Texas sponsors the competition.