The document congratulates the North Carolina Microsoft IT Academy on reaching 200,000 certifications earned by students and teachers since 2010. It recognizes that the NC Microsoft IT Academy provides digital curriculum and certifications in applications like Microsoft Office, as well as computer science and IT skills. It also congratulates 18 North Carolina high school students who placed in the top three in six categories of the 2015 NC Microsoft Office Specialist competition and will represent the state in a national championship.

1. A REPRESENTATIVE STATEMENT
CONGRATULATING THE NC MICROSOFT IT ACADEMY ON 200,000
CERTIFICATIONS AND THE NC MOS 2015 CHAMPIONS
WHEREAS, in 2010, North Carolina launched the nation’s first statewide Microsoft
IT Academy; and
WHEREAS, North Carolina’s Microsoft IT Academy offers digital access to
instructional curriculum and certifications that enable students to learn applications such as
Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, Excel, and Access, as well as skills necessary in the studies of
computer science and IT infrastructure; and
WHEREAS, currently, 47,519 North Carolina students are enrolled in career and
technical education courses through the Microsoft IT Academy; and
WHEREAS, since 2010, North Carolina students and teachers have earned valuable
career skills and more than 200,000 professional certifications through the Microsoft IT
Academy for a statewide cost savings to date of more than $20 million in certification costs
avoided; and
WHEREAS, today, 18 North Carolina high school students are being recognized by
earning a place as the top three finishers in six categories of the 2015 NC Microsoft Office
Specialist (MOS) competition, and the six first-place finishers will go on to represent the state in
Certiport’s MOS U.S. National Championship in Orlando, Florida, in mid-June; and
WHEREAS, North Carolina students have an impressive track record in these
competitions with 12 high school students from this state having been among the winners in
national MOS competitions since 2010 and one student having brought home third place in the
worldwide MOS competition; and
NOW, THEREFORE, North Carolina’s Microsoft IT Academy deserves recognition
for enabling teachers and students to build valuable career skills and earn 200,000 professional
certifications; and the 18 students named 2015 NC MOS competition winners should be
congratulated on their outstanding achievements.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned certifies that the foregoing statement was
read in the House and placed upon the Journal on the _______ day of ________________, 2015.
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Submitted by Representative Hugh Blackwell
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House Principal Clerk