The College of Charleston School of Business is proud to announce that nine students earned the top nine rankings in South Carolina for Certiport’s Microsoft Office Specialist 2024 State Championship Fall Qualifier for the Microsoft Excel (Office 2019) Associate Certification exam administered in Fall 2024.
This impressive showing highlights the excellence of our students and the strength of instruction focused on career readiness within the Department of Supply Chain and Information Management and the Certiport Authorized Testing Center. From first place to ninth, these students demonstrated advanced Excel skills that are essential in today’s data-driven business world.
Meet the Top Performers
Each student received a monetary prize provided by the Department of Supply Chain and Information Management in recognition of their outstanding scores. Their success reflects the rigorous preparation offered through their coursework and the guidance of their dedicated professors: Eric Villafranca, Olga Biedova, and James Malm.
1st Place: Emilia Haynes
“I am incredibly grateful for the opportunity to earn my Microsoft Excel Certification through College of Charleston and could not have succeeded without Professor Villafranca. I have gained invaluable skills that not only give me a competitive advantage in the workforce, but have also helped me in my everyday life.”
2nd Place: Dylan Ritter
“The Microsoft Excel Associate certification has been instrumental in my technical development and could not have been timelier as I begin my career in finance. While there are always more tricks to learn, this program provided me a foundation that will serve me for years to come.”
3rd Place: William Holmes
“Preparing for this certification has significantly strengthened my analytical skills and career readiness, thanks to the guidance of Dr. Biedova.”
4th Place: Jackson VanHorn
“The Excel certification allowed me to improve my data analysis and presentation proficiency, and I’m sure these skills will be useful in my career post-graduation.”
5th Place: Elisa Penaloza
“I’m incredibly grateful for this award and for the impact that earning my Excel certification has had on my academic and personal growth. Before this, I had no experience with Excel, but through GMetrix practice and exams, I gained the confidence and skills to excel in my courses and beyond.”
6th Place: Amanda Collins
“Placing 6th in the South Carolina State Championship Fall Qualifiers for the Microsoft Excel Associate certification boosted my confidence and showed me how valuable technical skills like Excel are in preparing for a career in data-driven fields. It pushed me to keep improving and take pride in my growth.”
7th Place: John Curreri
“Excel has become such an important part of the business world, and knowing that I am able to navigate it effectively gives me confidence as I move forward.”
8th Place: Bo Dwyer
“Participating in this Excel competition has been very rewarding and has provided me with skills that I will utilize in my future career. I believe that I can leverage this into future job interviews and opportunities.”
9th Place: Jake Kreindler
“I am pleased to have placed 9th in the South Carolina State Championship Fall Qualifiers for the Microsoft Excel Associate certification. This experience has strengthened my skills in financial modeling and efficient data management, preparing me for a career in financial services. A special thank you to Dr. James Malm for his expertise in teaching FINC 389.”
