Certiport’s 2014 Microsoft Office Specialist U.S. National Championship is the national qualifier to the World Championship, determining which students will represent the United States at the world level at the 2014 Microsoft Office Specialist World Championship.
This year, Washington will be represented by three students, Pavel Moiseev of Renton High School, Noah Turmel of Kalama High School, and Marcus Vance of A.G. West Black Hills High School on June 20-22 in Atlanta, Georgia.
Students in high schools throughout Washington state are enrolled in the Microsoft IT Academy, which teaches students to be proficient in Microsoft Office software such as Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. The classes help bridge the gap between education and the workplace by boosting Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM), and the employability and global competitiveness of students and the future workforce. Renton and Kalama High Schools have been offering the Microsoft IT Academy Program with Microsoft Office Certification for the past 3 and a half years. A.G West Black Hills High School has been certifying students students since June 2013. These students are getting certified in various Microsoft Office applications with some students achieving higher levels of certification like Microsoft Office Specialist Expert and Microsoft Office Specialist Master level.
“The IT Academy curriculum has transformed my teaching. My freshmen get excited when I tell them they are learning skills most adults do not have, and they love the idea that they can earn college credit now”, says Jeff Dowd, Microsoft IT Academy teacher, Renton High School.
Microsoft IT Academy students understand that the skills they develop through certification are valued and recognized, not just in doing school assignments, but by businesses all over the world.
(Kalama High School student, Noah Turmel with Business & Technology Instructor Katherine Schmit, and Mike Hamilton, Principal of Kalama High School)
“I have spoken with many employers in our area that tell me seeing a certification on a resume gives the applicant a leg up on other applicants – sometimes even over experience. A company is much quicker to hire someone with globally recognized skills so that training can take place the way that company wants it to” explains Katherine Schmit, Business & Technology Instructor at Kalama High School.
Now, all three students are busily preparing for the U.S. National Championship where they will compete against other U.S. students. The top competitors will qualify to compete at the 2014 Microsoft Office Specialist World Championship in Anaheim, California.
(Renton High School student, Pavel Moiseev with Microsoft IT Academy teacher Jeff Dowd, and Giovanna San Martin, Principal of Renton High School)
“I’m pretty excited. Going to Atlanta to compete for a spot in the World Competition is awesome!” says Pavel Moiseev of his qualification to the U.S. National Championship.
At CCI Learning, we are proud of the success these teachers and students have had with the Microsoft IT Academy program and we wish them great luck at the competition.
“I would like to congratulate Pavel, Marcus, and Noah on qualifying for the Microsoft Office Specialist U.S. National Championship and representing Washington State. This achievement is a testament of the hard work and dedication of these students and the teachers who have guided them. I wish them and all students across North America the best of luck as they compete in the Microsoft Office Specialist World Championships.” says Malcolm Knox, President and CEO of CCI Learning.
Do you know of any student competing in the 2014 Microsoft Office Specialist U.S. National Championship? Let us know what school they’re representing in the comments!
You can find more information on the 2014 Microsoft Office Specialist U.S. National and World Championships and how your students can qualify on the Microsoft Office Specialist World Championship website. Interested in Microsoft IT Academy at your school? Contact your regional representative at CCI Learning today for more information on how to get started.
