Microsoft Excel Collegiate Challenge Hosted by Isenberg

The Isenberg School of Management hosted the Northeast’s first Microsoft Excel Collegiate Challenge (MECC) April 6. While the event has taken place in other regions, it was never hosted in this area. Approximately 150 students from nine colleges and universities attended the event—held in the Berthiaume Business Innovation Hub—during which they got to compete in the ultimate test of Excel skills.

“To all the students who participated: Whether it was your first dive into Excel Esports or another chapter in your journey, thank you for bringing your skill, focus, and enthusiasm to the game,” said event organizer Nora Junaid, senior lecturer in Isenberg’s Department of Operations and Information Management. “This was an epic way to close out regionals.

“Isenberg is proud to be a leader in this groundbreaking initiative and historic event,” added Junaid, who was named a Microsoft Most Valuable Professional (MVP) in June. The MVP program recognizes exceptional community leaders for their technical expertise, leadership, speaking experience, online influence, and commitment to solving real-world problems.

Junaid is an Excel influencer and content creator on Instagram. Her account, @Excel.Ninja, has grown to over 260,000 Excel enthusiasts and followers. In spring 2024, she was invited by Microsoft Office to become an Excel Ambassador. The ambassador program is designed to help creators develop engaging Excel-related content and strength the Excel community. Through the ambassadorship, Junaid was introduced to MECC leadership and learned about the competitions and regional challenges.

“I immediately saw an opportunity for Isenberg to take the lead, given the incredible Excel skills and innovation fostered here,” she said. “The school’s unwavering support for innovation made it the perfect place to kick off this exciting collaboration.”

The regional esports event was open to all schools in the Northeast. Students from Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Vermont, and other states attended and enhanced and tested their Excel skills, networked with fellow enthusiasts, won prizes, and earned badges.

The highest-ranked varsity-level student advanced to the May 10 Online Regional Winners Battle, where they competed for a chance to secure a guaranteed spot in the MECC Championship Individual Semi-Finals in December in Las Vegas. Additionally, the highest-ranked varsity-level team—with the team score calculated based on the top three students from the same school in each assignment category—earned a place in the MECC Championship Team Semi-Finals, also in December in Las Vegas.

Messiah University finished at the top in April, but as it was already pre-qualified for the MECC Championship in December, the qualifying spot went to Champlain College. Luke Peyton of Messiah University qualified for the MECC Online Regional Winners' Battle on May 10. Peyton took the top spot at regionals at UMass.

The MECC aligns with Isenberg’s mission, according to Junaid, an MECC fellow who designed one of the cases for the challenge that was taken across all regions.

“Our students are exceptionally well-equipped with Excel skills, which are in high demand in today’s data-driven world,” she said. “Isenberg is a leader in technology, and our curriculum focuses on providing students with the technical expertise and analytical skills that organizations seek most.

“Whether at the undergraduate or graduate level, we emphasize a data-oriented approach, ensuring that our students are prepared to excel in a competitive environment,” Junaid added. “This synergy between the MECC’s focus and Isenberg’s strengths makes for a natural and impactful collaboration.”

Guest speakers were Grant (Your Average Finance Bro), Andrew Davidson, Diarmuid Early, Cristiano Galvao, and Julian Poeltl.

Twenty UMass Amherst students placed in the regional rankings:

• Laura Burns at #8
• Aditya Kumar at #11
• Ted de Peyster at #12
• Neo Liu at #13
• Linh Vu at #14
• Dante Spivak at #15
• Aditi Kashinath Deolekar at #17
• Amlan Sengupta at #18
• Carter Bouchard at #20
• Darrius Lupo at #21
• William Steadman at #22
• Eylul Cavac Grinuk at #24
• Dor Shitrit at #25
• Ezra Reed at #26
• Nick DosVais at #28
• Chi Nguyen at #29
• Sameer Pirthiani at #30
• Frank Maffia at #31
• Noah Latch at #35
• Christian Claiborne at #36

See the full list of rankings.

Read more about the MECC.