SKYCTC students excel at 2025 Microsoft Office Specialist National Competition

BOWLING GREEN, Ky. – Southcentral Kentucky Community and Technical College has announced several of its students are in the top 10 for the 2025 Microsoft Office Specialist National Competition.

According to SKYCTC, the competition was held June 16-18 in Dallas, Texas.

SKYCTC officials say Aliza Wilson of Russellville came in 8th place in Microsoft Excel (Microsoft 365 Apps), Kristopher Evanoff of Franklin took 8th place in Microsoft Word (Microsoft 365 Apps) and Paris Carlson of Bowling Green earned 6th place in Microsoft PowerPoint (Microsoft 365 Apps) competitions.

To qualify for nationals, students had to place first in their respective competitions at the Kentucky State Championship Qualifiers held in fall of 2024 and spring of 2025.

SKYCTC students placing in the top 10 in Kentucky during the Fall Qualifier of the 2025 Microsoft Office Specialist U.S. Kentucky Championship:

• Abigail Nuetzman – 8th Place, Microsoft Excel (Microsoft 365 Apps)
• Ashton Slaughter – 8th Place, Microsoft PowerPoint (Office 2019)*
• Derek Fortune – 3rd Place, Microsoft Excel (Microsoft 365 Apps)
• Karlee Harper – 6th Place, Microsoft Excel (Microsoft 365 Apps)
• Madison Stinson – 1st Place, Microsoft Word (Microsoft 365 Apps)
• Madison Stinson – 8th Place, Microsoft PowerPoint (Microsoft 365 Apps)
• Madison Stinson – 9th Place, Microsoft Excel (Microsoft 365 Apps)
• Nolan Hughson – 3rd Place, Microsoft Excel (Office 2019)*
• Nolan Hughson – 7th Place, Microsoft Word (Office 2019)*
• Paris Carlson – 1st Place, Microsoft PowerPoint (Microsoft 365 Apps)
• Paris Carlson – 3rd Place, Microsoft Word (Microsoft 365 Apps)
• Paris Carlson – 5th Place, Microsoft Excel (Microsoft 365 Apps)
• Santiago Villarreal Olmos – 6th Place, Microsoft Word (Office 2019)*
  (*CIT 105 dual credit student at Greenwood High School)

SKYCTC students placing in the top 10 in Kentucky during the Spring Qualifier of the 2025 Microsoft Office Specialist U.S. Kentucky Championship:

• Aliza Wilson – 1st Place, Microsoft Excel (Microsoft 365 Apps) *
• Austin Miller – 2nd Place, Microsoft Excel (Microsoft 365 Apps)
• Brikei Blankenship – 4th Place, Microsoft Word (Microsoft 365 Apps)
• Lexi Gray – 5th Place, Microsoft Excel (Microsoft 365 Apps)
• Chandler Hudgins – 8th Place, Microsoft Excel (Microsoft 365 Apps)
• Amina Karamova – 9th Place, Microsoft Excel (Microsoft 365 Apps)
• Jaxson Shrull – 10th Place, Microsoft Excel (Microsoft 365 Apps)
• Kristopher Evanoff – 1st Place, Microsoft Word (Microsoft 365 Apps) *
  * Dual credit students Aliza Wilson and Kristopher Evanoff represented Kentucky at the 2025 Microsoft Office Specialist U.S. National Championship in Dallas, Texas.

MOS-certified individuals demonstrate mastery over the full features and functionality of Microsoft Office, supporting their competitiveness in the job market.

SKYCTC states studies have shown MOS certification correlates with improved academic performance, high graduation rates and increased post-secondary enrollment.

“We have seen amazing results from the Microsoft Office Specialist program at our school as students learn and validate key workforce skills,” said Carmen Gaskins, professor and computer and information technologies program coordinator at SKYCTC. “The Microsoft Office Specialist U.S. National Championship further motivates them to earn certification, and we are proud of these students who have proven to be the best in our state. We know they will go on to make us proud at the competition in June.”