Lincoln-Way East Student Advances To Microsoft National Competition

FRANKFORT, IL — Lincoln-Way Community High School District 210 has announced that a 2024 Lincoln-Way East graduate has qualified for the Microsoft Office Specialist National Competition which will be held later this month, the District said in a release.

Winning 1st place and qualifying for Nationals in the Microsoft Office Specialist PowerPoint (Microsoft 365 Apps) category is Emily Newberry from Lincoln-Way East. Newberry competed against students from across Illinois to earn this coveted placement.

“A year ago, the thought of representing my state and achieving Microsoft certification seemed like an impossible dream. Yet here I stand today, filled with immense pride and excitement as dreams can become a reality. For the future belongs to those who believe in their dreams," Newberry said in a release.

To compete in the Fall and Spring Qualifiers, high school and college students aged 13 to 22 were eligible to participate in one of six competition tracks by submitting a qualified, passing score on the Microsoft Office Specialist Word, Excel, or PowerPoint certification exams, according to the District.

“We have seen amazing results from the Microsoft Office Specialist program at our school as students learn and validate key workforce skills, as 19 students earn 36 certifications this year” said John Taylor, the dual credit Microsoft Office Applications teacher for both Lincoln-Way Central and East. “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 from both Central and East. We know Emily will go on to make us proud at the U.S. National Championship in June.”

Newberry will represent Illinois at the upcoming 2024 Microsoft Office Specialist U.S. National Championship in Orlando, Florida. During this event, she will compete in her Microsoft PowerPoint.

One winner per track will be named the U.S. National Champion and earn a trip to represent the United States and compete in the 2024 Microsoft Office Specialist World Championship in Anaheim, California.

Top Ten Spring winners from Lincoln-Way Central include the following students:

Nathan Fedor – 2nd place Microsoft Office Specialist PowerPoint (Microsoft 365 Apps)

Jesus Ferran-Heredia – 6th place Microsoft Office Specialist Word (Microsoft 365 Apps)

Collin Meyers – 6th place Microsoft Office Specialist PowerPoint (Microsoft 365 Apps)

Top Ten Fall winners from Lincoln-Way East include the following students:

Emily Newberry – 1st place Microsoft Office Specialist PowerPoint (Microsoft 365 Apps)

Anthony Mazziotta – 2nd place Microsoft Office Specialist PowerPoint (Microsoft 365 Apps)

Jacob Llanes – 5th place Microsoft Office Specialist Word (Microsoft 365 Apps) and 7th place Microsoft Office Specialist Excel (Microsoft 365 Apps

Nathan F. Gaines – 6th place Microsoft Office Specialist Word (Microsoft 365 Apps) and 6th place Microsoft Office Specialist PowerPoint (Microsoft 365 Apps)

Isabella N. Clementi – 8th place Microsoft Office Specialist Word (Microsoft 365 Apps)