McNeese Students Win LNG Essay Contest

Two McNeese State University students won the Leaders of Tomorrow essay contest at the Americas LNG and GAS Summit and Exhibition that took place in Lake Charles recently.

Alicia Vieira Claudio, a chemical engineering student from São Paulo, Brazil won first place, and Kayli Williams, a finance major from DeQuincy, won second place. Students from McNeese, University of Louisiana Lafayette and Louisiana State University entered the essay contest.

“As an international student and a woman in the STEM field, it is definitely an honor to be awarded first place in this competition,” Claudio explained. “I am incredibly proud of being part of this new generation of engineers that are on the constant search for more efficient and safe ways to produce and consume energy, with a strong focus on the environment as well as the reliability of the process.”

Students attended the Summit and enjoyed meeting people from around the world who work in the liquified natural gas (LNG) field.

“It was such a wonderful experience to be able to listen to and talk to experts in the LNG field. I learned that LNG is such an important part of the world and not just the area around us,” said Williams.

The winners of the essay contest can participate in a year-long internship with Bechtel Oil, Gas & Chemicals.

Williams is earning the new LNG Undergraduate Certificate in addition to a bachelor’s degree at McNeese. “I plan to intern at Bechtel and then get a job in a related field,” she said.

Claudio would like to work in the energy sector, perhaps in LNG. She also has interests in oil and gas and is interested in new opportunities and experiences.