North Central Missouri College student Remus Williams of Chillicothe earned first place in the 2026 Microsoft Office Specialist Word 365 Missouri State Championship Fall Qualifier.

Williams placed first in the Microsoft Office Specialist Word, Microsoft 365 Apps category, after competing against students from across Missouri. She also achieved a perfect score, marking the first time in North Central Missouri College history that a student has done so in the competition.

“I’d like to thank NCMC for the opportunity to enter this competition, and especially NCMC’s Ronda Copple and Grand River Technical School’s Kayla Leatherman for continuous encouragement in the business field,” Williams said.

To compete in the Fall Qualifier, students ages 13 to 22 were eligible to participate in one of six competition tracks by submitting a qualified, passing score on the MOS Word, Excel or PowerPoint certification exams by Dec. 19, 2025.

“We have seen amazing results from the MOS program at our school as students learn and validate key workforce skills,” said Copple, NCMC business faculty member. “The MOS U.S. National Championship further motivates them to get certified, and we are proud of Remus, who has proven to be the best in our state. We know she will go on to make us proud at the MOS U.S. National Championship in June.”

Williams will represent Missouri and NCMC in the 2026 MOS U.S. National Championship in Nashville, Tennessee. During the event, she will compete in her exam track, network with other top students from across the United States and celebrate her certification success.

One winner per track will be named the U.S. national champion and earn a trip to represent the United States in the 2026 MOS World Championship in Anaheim, California.

“We’re impressed by these students. They have proven they are the best in their state at using Microsoft Office products effectively. Plus, they now have an important distinction to place on their resume that shows a desire to learn and validate in-demand skills,” Krista Ketchmark, vice president of Certiport and Global IT business development for Pearson, said. “The title ‘Microsoft Office Specialist Champion’ will serve them well in their academic and career pursuits.”

The Microsoft Office Specialist certification is the only official Microsoft-recognized certification for Microsoft Office globally and serves as a tool for assessing students’ skills and preparing them for real-world application of their knowledge.

Williams is a first-year student at NCMC pursuing an Associate of Arts degree in business. A Missouri A-Plus student, she is on track to graduate in May 2027.

At NCMC, Williams is an active member of the Nerds Guild and the Book Club. She spends her time studying, spending time with friends and working as an intern at Trenton Tax and Accounting.

More information about the MOS U.S. National Championship is available at us.moschampionship.com.