Vancouver, Canada – A Canadian student from Maple Ridge, B.C. has been awarded the Silver medal; second in the world for Microsoft Office PowerPoint 2016 while competing in the Microsoft Office Specialist World Championship.
Eighteen-year-old Karrah Parke, a graduate from Thomas Haney Secondary School, out-performed more than 760,000 competitors from 116 countries. Students had to recreate a Microsoft Office PowerPoint 2016 presentation created by Microsoft and Certiport, with a time limit of 50 minutes. They were marked by their level of correctness and the time they could complete the task in.
This was Parke’s second time competing at the Microsoft Office Specialist World Championships, last year she competed in Microsoft Office Word 2016. She has spent countless hours preparing and practicing her PowerPoint 2016 skills to once again represent her country on a global stage. CCI Learning sponsors the competition in Canada with an all-expenses-paid trip for the Country Champions in Word, Excel and PowerPoint.
Parke received the title and silver medal, $3,500 US cash prize, and a Microsoft 2-in-1 laptop last week at the Hilton Orlando Lake Buena Vista in Florida, USA.
Parke says, “Going to the World Championships was such a unique and incredible experience. It was truly an opportunity of a lifetime to get to go. It was amazing to meet people from all over the world that have similar interests and passions. It is an extremely well-organized event, as they kept us busy from the moment we arrived. The mixer the first night was incredibly fun and entertaining, and the test itself was challenging, but going to the amusement park [Universal Studios – Harry Potter World] the next day was the perfect way to relax and de-stress. Regardless of final placement, it was simply wonderful just to have the chance to be there.”
“The Microsoft Office Specialist World Championship is truly a moving experience – not only because these students are thrilled to compete, but because their lives have been changed by certification,” said Ray Murray, Vice President, Business Development, Pearson VUE. “Every person who earns MOS certification has demonstrated the ability to command the full features and functionality of Microsoft Office, preparing them for future academic or workforce opportunities. The MOS World Championship allows us to celebrate that accomplishment and motivate students on a global scale.” In the 17 years that the Microsoft Office Specialist World Championships has taken place, this is the third time that Canada has placed in the top three.
CCI Learning recognizes the importance of certification and the value it adds to students’ lives. “Everyone at CCI Learning is incredibly proud of Karrah for her achievement, who has had so many doors opened for her by becoming certified in Microsoft Office programs and competing in the Microsoft Office Specialist World Championships. This amazing achievement confirms why our company does what we do, we strive to enable greatness and believe that every lifetime deserves to be maximized. Karrah is well on her way to maximizing her potential,” says Vanessa Knox, Chief Operating Officer of CCI Learning.
Parke plans to take certification with her throughout her life and hopes others will too, she says, “It is an excellent asset to have on your resume. It really sets you apart from your peers who are not certified. In a way, it’s like an investment into yourself that lets you gain expertise in the Microsoft Office products that make up such an integral part of businesses globally, and because of being certified in those products, you are more employable.”
“We are very impressed with the winners of the MOS World Championship and grateful to meet so many young people who have realized the power of Microsoft Office skills for productivity and employability,” said Anthony Salcito, Vice President, Worldwide Education – Microsoft. “MOS certification gives students tangible proof they know how to use Microsoft Office tools in academics and on the job from day one.”
Download high-resolution photos of Karrah here and here, and her video interview can be downloaded here. The event hashtag is #MOSWC.
About CCI Learning
CCI Learning is an education technology company specializing in interactive courseware, certification, software licensing, and educator services. At CCI Learning we take a human-centered approach to learning by focusing on the needs of every individual, offering a variety of learning solutions in productivity, computer science, digital literacy and creative computing. CCI Learning researches and develops award-winning courseware for print, electronic and assessment engines that are sold and distributed globally. Founded on this world-leading courseware, CCI Learning has developed Jasperactive, the world’s first kinesthetic Microsoft Office learning and validation system mapped to the Microsoft Office Specialist Global Standard.
As a Platinum Certiport Partner and Microsoft Authorized Educational Partner, CCI Learning advances digital literacy, productivity skills and information technology for students, faculty, and staff in academic institutions worldwide by providing globally recognized certifications, learning solutions and educator services.
For additional information, please contact:
Lexie Wynne
CCI Learning
+1 (604) 424-8213
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