COLUMBUS, NE - The winners of the 2025 Microsoft Office Specialist (MOS) Nebraska State Championship Fall Qualifier have been announced by Certiport, a Pearson Business, the leading provider of performance-based IT certification exams that accelerate people's academic and career opportunities.
Winning 2nd place in the Microsoft Office Specialist PowerPoint (Office 2019) category is Meg Weeder from Columbus HIgh School. Meg competed against students from across Nebraska to earn this coveted placement.
"I am incredibly proud of Meg for earning second place in the state in Microsoft PowerPoint. This achievement reflects her dedication, creativity, and ability to apply classroom learning to real-world technology skills," said Alexandra Bastian, teacher at Columbus High School. "Opportunities like the Microsoft Office Specialist program highlight the importance of career and technical education by providing students with industry-recognized credentials that prepare them for college, careers, and success in today’s workforce."
To compete in the Fall Qualifier, students aged 13 to 22 were eligible to participate in one of six competition tracks by submitting a qualified, passing score on the MOS Word, Excel, or PowerPoint certification exams by December 19, 2025.
The first-place students will get to represent Nebraska at the upcoming 2026 MOS U.S. National Championship in Nashville, Tennessee. During this event, they will compete in their exam track, network with other top students from around the United States and celebrate their certification success. One winner per track will be named the U.S. National Champion and earn a trip to represent the United State and compete in the 2026 MOS World Championship in Anaheim, California.
"We're impressed by these students. They have proven they are the best in their state at using Microsoft Office products effectively. Plus, they now have an important distinction to place on their resume that shows a desire to learn and validate in-demand skills," said Krista Ketchmark, Vice President Certiport and Global IT Business Development, Pearson. "The title 'Microsoft Office Specialist Champion' will serve them well in their academic and career pursuits."
The MIcrosoft Office Specialist certification is the only official Microsoft recognized certification for Microsoft Office globally and serves as a powerful instrument for assessing students' skills and preparing them for real-world application of their knowledge.