Steele High School Students Crowned State Champs in Microsoft Office Championship

Cue the applause, because three whiz kids from Steele Early College High School in Texas just aced the competition stage in a way that most of us only dream of. Valerie Abai, Noah Kiura, and Leilani Lopez were crowned state champions in the annual Microsoft Office Specialist (MOS) Championship. Now, they’re packing their bags and heading to the national stage in Dallas this summer to take on the U.S. Microsoft Office titans. Wondering what this all means and how they achieved such a feat? Let’s break it down.

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What is the Microsoft Office Specialist Championship?​

To start, the MOS Championship is not your typical high school spelling bee or band competition. This is a nationwide event geared toward students who can showcase supreme mastery over Microsoft’s Office suite—think Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. Sponsored by Certiport, this event is the perfect blend of tech-savvy acumen and competitive intensity, attracting students from all corners of the U.S.
Participants are required to pass a rigorous exam based on either Microsoft Office 2019 or Microsoft 365 Apps. Proficiency isn’t enough—perfection is the name of the game. Students must demonstrate speed, efficiency, and comprehensive knowledge of the software’s features to earn top marks, and that’s exactly what Valerie, Noah, and Leilani did. A flawless performance, earning perfect scores, boosted them to the top of the rankings.

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Meet the Power Trio​

1. Valerie Abai: Valerie crushed the PowerPoint 365 category, turning the art of slide decks into a science. Transition animations, SmartArt mastery, and slide layouts? She’s got it all under control.
2. Noah Kiura: Noah demonstrated his prowess in PowerPoint 2019, proving that this medium can be dynamic and dazzling when used to its fullest capacity.
3. Leilani Lopez: Leilani mastered Word 365 so perfectly that she’s basically a human grammar checker. Fonts, formatting, mail merges—you name it, she nailed it.

These three didn’t just squeak through their exams; they aced their respective categories to become half of Texas’ cohort of fall qualifiers for nationals.

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How It All Went Down​

Students looking to compete face two qualifying periods: Fall and Spring. Each period sends top performers from each state directly to the championship stage. Only six students per state per period qualify, making Valerie, Noah, and Leilani’s achievement in the Fall Qualifier nothing short of exceptional. They're joined by their coach and teacher, Sarah Zeballos, who must be brimming with pride after seeing her protégés excel.
But there’s another twist—there's still a chance for more Steele students to join the national finals. Who knows? After the Spring Qualifier results are announced, Steele could end up with an even bigger representation in Dallas.

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Why the Championships Matter​

Some may shrug and ask, "Why does this matter? It’s Microsoft Office." But here’s the thing—Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint are the workhorses of modern professional environments. Whether you’re cranking out a grouped pivot table in Excel, fine-tuning a report layout in Word, or delivering an electrifying company presentation through PowerPoint, these tools are everywhere.
The MOS Championship sets a high bar for real-world skills that employers value. In fact:

• Top MOS competitors often land internships and jobs more easily, given their certifications prove legitimate expertise.
• These exams are rigorous, and a perfect score means you’ve unlocked advanced features that most professionals never touch.
• The exposure and recognition participants gain set them apart when pursuing college admissions or competitive career paths.

Let’s not forget the cherry on top: prize money, scholarships, and serious bragging rights.

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Tech Talk: What’s in These Exams?​

Here’s a sneak peek into what these students would’ve had to demonstrate during their MOS exams:

Microsoft Word 365/2019​

• Advanced formatting techniques like setting up styles and applying design themes.
• Complex table setups, footnotes, and cross-referencing.
• Use of features such as mail merge to create automated, personalized documents.

Microsoft PowerPoint 365/2019​

• Creating visually cohesive presentations with advanced themes, slide masters, and custom layouts.
• Incorporating multimedia elements: videos, audio clips, and dynamic animations.
• Crafting fully automated slideshow timings for professional delivery.

These students didn’t just dabble in these skills—they mastered them under timed conditions, using all shortcuts and functions at their disposal while ensuring zero errors.

Real-World Relevance​

Imagine you’re tasked with preparing a quarterly sales deck for senior executives, or compiling business reports across multiple departments under a tight deadline. These features are your toolkit, and these students have already turned them into a second language.

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Steele's Legacy at MOS Championships​

This isn’t Steele Early College High School’s first rodeo. In fact, one of their alumni, Preston Nnadi, clinched a national championship last year. The pressure is on for Valerie, Noah, and Leilani to replicate or surpass that success. The MOS U.S. National Championship will feature live competitions, where participants face never-before-seen challenges in real time. Think of it as the Olympics of productivity software, but with a PowerPoint remote instead of a baton.
As the trio prepares for June, they’ll be training to ensure they have split-second responses to their tasks. The event will pit them against hundreds of state champions, aiming for the coveted title of U.S. Champion—and if they succeed, entry into the World Championship.

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How You Can Get Involved​

Feeling inspired? Here’s how you or someone you know can follow in Valerie, Noah, and Leilani’s digital footsteps:

1. Get Certified: Start with MOS certifications for any of the Microsoft Office tools. Exams are available through platforms like Certiport.
2. Perfect Your Skills: Practice beyond day-to-day usage. Explore advanced features like VBA macros in Excel or custom animations in PowerPoint.
3. Join a Championship: If you’re in high school or college, look for regional qualifiers to get a shot at entering this exclusive competition.

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A Final Round of Applause​

These three Steele students have redefined what it means to be tech-savvy, excelling at tools that drive the modern workplace. As they prepare to tackle the nationals, they’re not just representing Steele High—they’re doing Texas proud. Expect fireworks in Dallas come June, because this trio is a force to be reckoned with.
So, WindowsForum readers, let’s root for Valerie, Noah, and Leilani as they head for the stage! And hey, maybe the next Microsoft Office Specialist champion is reading this article right now.
Got thoughts or questions about MOS certifications or how to dive into the world of professional Office mastery? Sound off in the comments!

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Source: Northwest Independent School District Three Steele students win Microsoft Office Specialist state championships