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St Colman's College, Newry, is celebrating after recent school leaver Arryn Lyness became the first student from Ireland to qualify for the Microsoft Office Specialist World Championship for a second consecutive year. Having won both the Irish Finals and the UK & Ireland Finals in Microsoft PowerPoint, Arryn will once again represent the UK and Ireland when the world's leading Microsoft Office specialists gather at Disneyland Resort in Anaheim, California, from 27 to 30 July.
The competition will bring together students from 37 countries to compete in the Microsoft Word, Excel and PowerPoint categories. Last year, Arryn finished seventh in the world in Microsoft Excel, and returning this year in a different application, he believes he has unfinished business.
He said: "Competing at the World Championship last year was an incredible experience. Finishing seventh gave me even more motivation. I know what to expect this time, and I feel like I have unfinished business. My goal is to come home with a medal."
Arryn will travel to California with his mother, who will accompany him as he competes against the world's best young Microsoft Office specialists.
His success forms part of a wider culture of digital excellence at St Colman's. Through the college's partnership with Prodigy Learning, every Year 10 and Year 13 student has the opportunity to achieve Microsoft Office Specialist certifications in Word, Excel and PowerPoint. These internationally recognised, Pearson-accredited qualifications provide students with industry-standard digital skills recognised by universities and employers around the world. Each year, students at St Colman's achieve approximately 500 such certifications, making the programme one of the college's flagship enrichment opportunities.
This year's competition also highlighted the depth of talent within the college. Twelve students qualified for the Irish National Finals, with fellow student Alan Karpiel crowned Irish Champion in Microsoft Word.
Principal Cormac McKinney praised Arryn's achievement and the wider success of the programme, saying: "Arryn's qualification for a second consecutive World Championship is an exceptional accomplishment and one of which our entire school community is immensely proud. His success reflects not only his own dedication and determination but also the opportunities available to our students through a curriculum that places digital skills alongside academic excellence. We wish Arryn every success as he once again represents the UK and Ireland on the world stage."
Michael Fegan, Associate Senior Teacher with responsibility for Digital Learning and Teaching, said: "To qualify for one Microsoft Office Specialist World Championship is an exceptional achievement. To return for a second consecutive year, having qualified in a completely different Microsoft Office application, is unprecedented.
"While Arryn's achievement is rightly being celebrated, we are equally proud that twelve of our students reached the Irish National Finals this year. Together with Alan's success in winning the Microsoft Word title, it demonstrates the strength of the programme and the opportunities available to every student at St Colman's College."
Vice Principal Helen Doherty, who leads on Curriculum, added: "Our aim has always been to equip young people with qualifications that have genuine value beyond school. Microsoft Office Specialist certifications are internationally recognised, Pearson-accredited qualifications that strengthen university, apprenticeship and employment applications, while giving students the confidence and digital skills to succeed in an increasingly technology-driven world."
As Arryn prepares to return to the World Championship stage, the entire St Colman's College community will be following his progress and hoping his second appearance ends with a place on the podium.
