La. Tech group prepares to defend its record - KNOE 8 News; KNOE-TV; KNOE.com |

RUSTON, La., (KNOE 8 News) - A group of La. Tech students is gearing up to defend its current eco-marathon fuel efficiency record and beat a national 647.7 mpg record it previously set during last year's competition, La. Tech also won first place for overall design and safety with its Urban Concept vehicle called "Roadster".

The team is competing with area schools including University of Houston and Rice University as well as national rivals UCLA, Purdue and Penn State. This year's event is being held in Houston, March 29th through April 1st.

The event challenges students to design, build and compete high-mileage vehicles then compete with their creation in competitions held annually in Europe, the Americas and Asia.  The Louisiana Tech students will be competing against more than a thousand high school and university students from around the country to navigate their fuel-efficient vehicles through the streets of downtown Houston.

The Louisiana Tech students, who come from many different academic degree programs, voluntarily participate in the project and do not get class credit.  They design, build, paint and test the cars on their own time, usually in the evenings, after class and on weekends.  They also assist with fundraising and publicity.  While employing skills they learn in the classroom, these students are also developing leadership and project management skills that will serve them throughout their careers.