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.

___________________________________Submitted by Representative Hugh Blackwell

___________________________________House Principal Clerk