MONROE, LA - Students from the Medical Laboratory Technician (MLT) Program at Louisiana Delta Community College (LDCC) recently traveled to Biloxi, Mississippi to attend the Louisiana Society for Clinical Laboratory Science - American Society for Clinical Laboratory Science (LSCLS–ASCLS) Bi-State Conference, a regional professional meeting for clinical laboratory science students and professionals.
The trip was made possible through Student Government Student Life funding and previous fundraising efforts from the LDCC MLT Society. While at the conference, students participated in professional networking, educational sessions, and a career fair featuring hospitals, four-year universities, and laboratory analyzer companies. These experiences allowed students to explore career opportunities, connect with industry professionals, and attend sessions designed to strengthen their knowledge in preparation for national board certification exams.
In addition to attending conference sessions covering topics such as immunology, microbiology, hematology, chemistry, and blood banking, LDCC students competed in the MLT Bowl, a quiz-style academic competition between medical laboratory science programs from across Louisiana and Mississippi.
A total of seven teams participated in the competition, representing Louisiana State University Alexandria (LSUA), Copiah-Lincoln Community College, Northeast Mississippi Community College (which fielded two teams), Mississippi Delta Community College, Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College, and Louisiana Delta Community College. Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College ultimately won the competition. This marked the first time students from LDCC’s MLT program have participated in the MLT Bowl, and the team made an impressive debut by earning 2nd place overall.
The LDCC team was led by Team Captain Caroline Streeter Harkins and included team members Zoe Coleman, Adrianna Miller, Samantha Smith, and Crystal Shipley. The students were supported by MLT Society advisors Dr. Alicia Jones, Program Director of the MLT Program, and Nicole Bruce, MLT Lab Coordinator.
The strong performance highlights the dedication and academic excellence of LDCC’s MLT students and reflects the program’s commitment to preparing highly skilled laboratory professionals for the healthcare workforce. For more information about the MLT program, visit ladelta.edu. Applications are currently being accepted for the Fall 2026 MLT cohort. Admission to the program is competitive and space is limited.