Certiport crowns Microsoft Office Specialist World Champions

Salt Lake City, UTAH – August 15, 2016

Certiport (www.certiport.com), a Pearson VUE business, the leading test delivery solution provider for the global workforce and academic markets, today announces the 2016 Microsoft Office Specialist (MOS) World Champions in Microsoft Word, Excel and PowerPoint, culminating the most popular technology skills competition on Microsoft Office and the only one endorsed by Microsoft since its inception in 2002.

In its 15th year, the 2016 MOS World Championship (MOSWC) attracted more than 700,000 unique candidates from 120 countries who took an MOS certification exam to demonstrate their mastery of Microsoft Office products. Regional competitions were held worldwide and 150 student finalists from 48 countries competed in the final round of competition in Orlando, Florida, USA.

The 2016 Microsoft Office Specialist World Champions are:

• Lai Tin Ming, age 16, Hong Kong, Microsoft Word® 2013
• Georgi Boshev, age 18, Bulgaria, Microsoft Word® 2010
• Ryan Catalfu, age 17, United States, Microsoft PowerPoint® 2013
• Ka Hei Chao, age 17, Macau, Microsoft PowerPoint® 2010
• Pak Hei Lee, age 18, Hong Kong, Microsoft Excel® 2013
• Kuan Hou Lei, age 16, Macau, Microsoft Excel® 2010

Certiport and Microsoft recognized the top student competitors at the MOSWC Student Awards Ceremony at the Hilton Orlando Lake Buena Vista Hotel in Orlando, Florida and presented each first place 2010 winner with a $5,000 cash prize and each 2013 winner with a $7,500 cash prize. In the concluding round, competitors participated in unique project-based tests to demonstrate their ability to create documents, spreadsheets and presentations for the information presented in Word, Excel and PowerPoint.

“As we celebrate the 15th year for this competition it is more popular than ever,” said Bob Whelan, president of Pearson Assessments. “In today’s global economy these young people understand that Microsoft Office Specialist certification gives them an edge and prepares them for success. The competition is a lot of fun, but it also gives participants a valuable, industry-recognized certification on their resume.”

MOS certification is the only official Microsoft-recognized certification for Microsoft Office globally and serves as a powerful instrument for assessing student skills and preparing students for real-world application.

“Microsoft is continually impressed with the caliber of competitors in the MOS World Championship and we are proud to support this inspiring event,” said Anneleen Vaandrager, senior director of Worldwide Public Sector – Education at Microsoft. “These students are masters at Word, Excel and PowerPoint, and they understand that achieving proficiency in these applications will help them in their academic success and entry into the workforce.”

Next year, Certiport will host the 2017 Microsoft Office Specialist World Championship in Anaheim, California. Download high-resolution photos of the winners here and video interviews here. The event hashtag is #MOSWC.