SKYCTC Students Shine at 2025 National Microsoft Office Specialist Competition

Southcentral Kentucky Community and Technical College (SKYCTC) continues to set a high bar in digital literacy and workforce readiness, as demonstrated by the recent achievements of its students at the 2025 Microsoft Office Specialist (MOS) National Competition. Success at a national-level competition such as this is not accidental; it’s the product of rigorous preparation, institutional support, and a shifting landscape where mastery of everyday digital tools is increasingly seen as crucial for professional success.

A National Stage for Digital Skills​

The 2025 MOS National Competition, held from June 16 to 18 in Dallas, Texas, brought together the most talented students from across the United States to compete in Microsoft Office applications—a suite ubiquitous in academic, business, and governmental environments worldwide. Contenders demonstrated their proficiency in Microsoft Excel, Word, and PowerPoint, all on the updated Microsoft 365 Apps and Office 2019 platforms. SKYCTC’s students stood out, with several achieving top 10 placements nationally:

• Aliza Wilson of Russellville: 8th place, Microsoft Excel (Microsoft 365 Apps)
• Kristopher Evanoff of Franklin: 8th place, Microsoft Word (Microsoft 365 Apps)
• Paris Carlson of Bowling Green: 6th place, Microsoft PowerPoint (Microsoft 365 Apps)

Qualifying for nationals required students to first secure leading results at the rigorous Kentucky State Championship Qualifiers during fall 2024 and spring 2025. In a field crowded with proficient digital natives, this accomplishment evidences both individual determination and institutional excellence.

A Closer Look: Kentucky’s Top Performers​

The depth of SKYCTC’s talent pool was particularly on display throughout both the fall and spring rounds of the state qualifiers. Notably:

Fall 2025 Kentucky Qualifier Highlights​

• Abigail Nuetzman: 8th, Microsoft Excel (Microsoft 365 Apps)
• Ashton Slaughter: 8th, Microsoft PowerPoint (Office 2019)
• Derek Fortune: 3rd, Microsoft Excel (Microsoft 365 Apps)
• Karlee Harper: 6th, Microsoft Excel (Microsoft 365 Apps)
• Madison Stinson: 1st, Microsoft Word (Microsoft 365 Apps); 8th, Microsoft PowerPoint (Microsoft 365 Apps); 9th, Microsoft Excel (Microsoft 365 Apps)
• Nolan Hughson: 3rd, Microsoft Excel (Office 2019); 7th, Microsoft Word (Office 2019)
• Paris Carlson: 1st, Microsoft PowerPoint (Microsoft 365 Apps); 3rd, Microsoft Word (Microsoft 365 Apps); 5th, Microsoft Excel (Microsoft 365 Apps)
• Santiago Villarreal Olmos: 6th, Microsoft Word (Office 2019)

Spring 2025 Kentucky Qualifier Highlights​

• Aliza Wilson: 1st, Microsoft Excel (Microsoft 365 Apps)
• Austin Miller: 2nd, Microsoft Excel (Microsoft 365 Apps)
• Brikei Blankenship: 4th, Microsoft Word (Microsoft 365 Apps)
• Lexi Gray: 5th, Microsoft Excel (Microsoft 365 Apps)
• Chandler Hudgins: 8th, Microsoft Excel (Microsoft 365 Apps)
• Amina Karamova: 9th, Microsoft Excel (Microsoft 365 Apps)
• Jaxson Shrull: 10th, Microsoft Excel (Microsoft 365 Apps)
• Kristopher Evanoff: 1st, Microsoft Word (Microsoft 365 Apps)

Several of these competitors were dual-credit students, such as Aliza Wilson, Kristopher Evanoff, and others noted with an asterisk, meaning they were still completing high school coursework while excelling in these advanced categories—an indication that digital literacy is being fostered early and effectively in Kentucky’s educational pipeline.

What MOS Certification Means in the Job Market​

Microsoft Office Specialist certification goes far beyond simply learning where to click in a software program. The certification verifies comprehensive, hands-on knowledge of advanced features and real-world use cases:

• Excel: Building intricate formulas, harnessing pivot tables, data visualization, and automating repetitive tasks with macros.
• Word: Complex formatting, reference tools, mail merge, and collaborative editing.
• PowerPoint: Advanced design, multimedia integration, and dynamic slide management.

Employers across fields regularly cite digital skills, especially in widely-used platforms like Microsoft Office, as top priorities for hiring. According to CompTIA’s 2024 “State of the Tech Workforce” report, digitally skilled candidates are actively sought even in positions not specifically labeled as IT roles. A 2022 LinkedIn analysis found that proficiency in Excel and Word remains a near-universal requirement in job postings for administrative, financial, marketing, and project management positions.
Beyond technical competence, MOS certification demonstrates a candidate’s commitment to professional development and their ability to validate skills through recognized standards. This can be a tiebreaker in competitive job markets, offering an edge for promotions and career advancement.

Academic and Long-Term Benefits: What the Data Shows​

Citing data provided by Certiport (the official MOS certification provider) and echoed in statements by SKYCTC officials, holding MOS credentials is correlated with measurable academic and career advantages. Research highlights include:

• Improved Academic Performance: Students with MOS certification often outperform their peers on standardized assessments and are more likely to report high levels of confidence in technology-rich environments.
• Higher Graduation Rates: A 2021 study by Certiport suggested up to an 11% increase in graduation rates among MOS-certified students—a figure that should be interpreted cautiously, given other contributing variables but nonetheless supported by multi-year trends.
• Increased Post-secondary Enrollment: Certification acts as a signal of college readiness. Students with MOS certification are more likely to pursue higher education or specialized training.

These results reinforce the notion that industry credentials have benefits that extend beyond immediate software expertise, touching on motivation, self-efficacy, and longer-term educational attainment.

Institutional Perspective: Fostering Talent and Raising the Bar​

According to Carmen Gaskins, professor and computer and information technologies program coordinator at SKYCTC, the MOS program “further motivates [students] to earn certification, and we are proud of these students who have proven to be the best in our state.” This is not a mere point of local pride—it reflects a broader pedagogical philosophy. The MOS program at SKYCTC is not simply a technical add-on but is designed to integrate with core curriculums, offering:

• Hands-on, project-based instruction that bridges theory and practical skills
• Targeted preparation for certification that ensures students enter competitive exams with real mastery, not just rote familiarity
• Support for career development, including resume workshops, networking opportunities, and direct employer outreach

This institutional commitment translates into tangible results, both for students and the community. As technology continues to reshape the workforce—even in industries historically resistant to change—digital competence is fast becoming a baseline, not a bonus.

Critical Analysis: Strengths, Risks, and the Bigger Picture​

While the achievements of SKYCTC’s students are rightly celebrated, a critical analysis of the MOS program and its broader implications reveals both strengths and areas for caution.

Notable Strengths​

• Real-World Applicability: Unlike some “check box” certifications, the MOS exams are performance-based, evaluating a candidate’s ability to solve actual business problems using Office software. This pragmatic approach increases the relevance of the credential in hiring and promotion decisions.
• Early Adoption and Dual Credit Expansion: By embedding digital skills programs in high school curriculums, Kentucky is ensuring a wider swath of students access advanced workplace training long before graduation.
• Bridging the Skills Gap: With growing concern over a digital divide, especially for geographically or economically marginalized groups, programs like MOS function as accessible stepping stones to broader opportunity.

Potential Risks and Limitations​

• Narrow Focus: While Office proficiency is valuable, overemphasis on one proprietary toolset (Microsoft) can risk narrowing a student’s digital experience at a time when multi-platform agility is increasingly valuable. Fluency with Office should be contextualized alongside other productivity platforms (Google Workspace, cloud collaboration tools, and, in many fields, basic data literacy with tools like Python or R).
• Credential Inflation: The value of technical certifications can be diluted if over-distributed or if employers become skeptical of their rigor. To maintain prestige, institutions must ensure that program standards remain high and exams are truly challenging.
• Socioeconomic Barriers: Despite their accessibility, certification programs can carry cost barriers, especially at scale. Ensuring all students can access prep materials, exam vouchers, and related support is vital to equity.
• Shifting Digital Landscape: With the accelerating integration of artificial intelligence in productivity tools—including Microsoft 365 Copilot—both instruction and certification criteria must evolve rapidly. Skills relevant today may need updating within a few years, demanding an agile and frequently updated curriculum.

How SKYCTC Stacks Up Nationally​

SKYCTC’s multi-student, multi-category sweep at both state and national levels places it not only among Kentucky’s best but among leading two-year institutions nationwide for the MOS program. In previous years, colleges from California, Texas, and Florida have typically dominated. That Kentucky can produce both quantity and quality of high achievers demonstrates the efficacy of its statewide approach: integrating dual-credit options for high schoolers, supporting dedicated faculty with up-to-date resources, and prioritizing digital literacy as an institutional goal.
Critically, SKYCTC’s results stand out not merely due to the volume of certifications but because of the breadth—students succeeding across Excel, Word, and PowerPoint, and across the most current and prior platform versions.

Testimonials and Voices from the Field​

While quantifiable results are critical, student and instructor perspectives also illuminate key drivers of success. Professors consistently note increased student engagement when coursework is tied to nationally recognized standards and competitions. Students report that prepping for MOS exams clarifies real-world expectations and builds confidence for internships, co-op programs, and part-time jobs.
Carmen Gaskins, the CIT program coordinator, emphasized not just achievement but personal growth: “We have seen amazing results from the Microsoft Office Specialist program at our school as students learn and validate key workforce skills… We know they will go on to make us proud at the competition in June.”
For SKYCTC’s MOS medalists, these wins are not the end, but the beginning of a journey—one that can open doors to scholarships, networking events, and career opportunities that springboard off proven digital expertise.

Looking Ahead: The Future of Digital Credentialing in Higher Education​

The rapid evolution of the modern workplace ensures that digital skill validation will only gain importance. Microsoft continues to refresh its exam content and delivery modes—most recently incorporating cloud-based scenarios and AI-powered features into its 365 suite, as well as accessibility standards for those with learning or physical differences.
For Kentucky’s educators, employers, and students, the challenge is to ensure that MOS and similar programs are not static checklists but adaptive, evolving strategies that integrate technical depth, design thinking, teamwork, and lifelong learning. An interdisciplinary approach—rooted in specific credentials like MOS but connected to broader tech fluency—is likely to serve graduates not just in early job searches, but through the many role changes and advancements that define contemporary careers.

Conclusion: More Than a Medal​

The success of SKYCTC’s students at the 2025 Microsoft Office Specialist National Competition is a testament to individual effort, strong faculty support, and an institutional culture that prizes real-world skill development. Their achievements do more than fill trophy cases—they send a powerful signal to peers, employers, and policymakers: that investment in digital competency pays dividends in academic achievement, career readiness, and statewide economic growth.
As other colleges and states examine Kentucky’s model, the broader lesson is clear: in the race for tomorrow’s jobs, the ability to wield the world’s most common productivity tools—proactively, creatively, and expertly—remains a cornerstone of both personal and collective success. For SKYCTC, the 2025 competition is both a capstone on years of hard work and a promising launchpad for the next generation of digital leaders.

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