ARVA Students Excel in Microsoft State Championship, Showcasing Critical Workforce Skills 

At Arkansas Virtual Academy (ARVA), students aren’t just preparing for graduation — they’re building skills that set them apart. This spring, five ARVA students proved just that by placing in the top 10 of the Microsoft Office Specialist Arkansas State Championship. 

Leading the group was ninth grader Anthony of Rogers, who achieved a perfect score on his Microsoft Word Certification Exam and placed second statewide. 

“My perfect score on the Microsoft Word Certification Exam was, without a doubt, the result of the lessons taught at ARVA, along with the support of my family, friends and teachers,” Anthony said. “I feel incredibly grateful for the opportunities presented by ARVA and hope that they will continue to help me build the skills I need to further succeed later in life.” 

Joining Anthony in the top 10 were: 

• Emma of Conway, 10th grade, 4th place 
• Samuel of Mountain Home, ninth grade, 7th place 
• Annabella of Lonoke, ninth grade, 8th place 
• Connor of Manila, 12th grade, 10th place 

These students competed against peers from across Arkansas, demonstrating advanced proficiency in Microsoft Office applications — a skillset highly valued in nearly every career field today. 

“We have seen amazing results from the Microsoft Office Specialist program at our school as students learn and validate key workforce skills,” said Lisa Short, ARVA’s Career and College Prep/CTE Administrator. “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.” 

At ARVA, students can build these skills through career-focused pathways that integrate real-world applications and industry certifications into their coursework. Two of the most popular are Information Technology & Security and Software Development. 

Graduates of these programs are well-positioned for jobs such as: 

• Applications software developer 
• Computer and information systems manager 
• Computer engineer 
• Computer programmer 
• Network administrator 
• Software developer 
• Software quality assurance engineer 
• Systems support specialist 
• Systems software developer 

For students like Anthony, Emma, Samuel, Annabella and Connor, opportunities to earn such industry certifications are more than resume builders. They’re confidence boosters that show students what they’re capable of achieving, and they open doors to even bigger challenges like the Future Business Leaders of America National Leadership Conference, where Anthony will compete this summer in Intro to Information Technology. 

Certiport, which manages the Microsoft Office Specialist program, notes that students who earn these certifications stand out in college applications and job interviews, proving they have the technical skills to succeed in any workplace. 

“The title of ‘Microsoft Office Specialist Champion’ will serve these students well in both their academic and career pursuits,” said Dr. Gary Gates, Managing Director at Pearson VUE. “Not only have they proven they are the best in their state at using Microsoft Office products effectively, but they also have an important distinction to place on their resume, which shows a desire to learn and validate in-demand skills.”  

As ARVA continues to celebrate student accomplishments, the school remains committed to empowering learners across Arkansas with the skills, certifications and career pathways required to thrive in tomorrow’s workforce. 

Learn more about how ARVA’s computer science pathways can prepare your student for success at our Computer Science Career Pathways page. To learn more about our other programs, pathways and student support, visit our How it Works page.