More than 357,000 students took over 800,000 tests in Microsoft Office Specialist (MOS) Applications, and only 148 students won their MOS State Championships to qualify for the national competition. At the MOS U.S. National Championship presented by Certiport, Inc., students competed in one of six categories: Microsoft Word 2013, Microsoft Word 2016, Microsoft Excel® 2013, Microsoft Excel® 2016, Microsoft Office PowerPoint® 2013, and Microsoft Office PowerPoint® 2016.
Three Princess Anne High School (PAHS) students were among the 148 competitors at the national championship held in Atlanta June 13-15, and the group returned to Virginia Beach with three of the top national awards.
Cameron Pillatsch, a junior, earned first place in PowerPoint 2013; ninth-grader Alexis Deynes won second place in Microsoft Word 2016; and junior Joseph Litz won second place in Microsft Excel 2016. PAHS Business Education Teacher Jason Barefoot attended the competition to support the students.
As one of the six MOS National Champions, Pillatsch received $3,000 as well as a medal of achievement, trophy and certificate. He also received an invitation to compete at the MOS World Championship in Orlando, Florida, July 28 through Aug. 1. The invitation includes a free flight and hotel room for the student and one chaperone. As second place winners, Deynes and Litz received $1,500 along with a medal of achievement and certificate.
At the MOS World Championship, students from more than 50 countries – including Pillatsch – will compete for cash prizes up to $7,000.
To learn more about the MOS National Championship, visit moschampionship.com/us. Details about the MOS World Championship are available at moschampionship.com.