15-year-old Kiwi crowned World Powerpoint champion

  • 06/08/2018

A Kiwi technology whizz kid has been crowned the world's Microsoft PowerPoint champion.

Fifteen-year-old Tristan Mona, from Auckland's Avondale College, beat more than 760,000 competitors from over 100 countries in a timed and graded exam to recreate a presentation put together by Microsoft and Certiport.  

Whoever creates the PowerPoint to the exact specifications wins.

Tristan competed in the final round in Florida, beating out 152 candidates from 52 countries in July to take home the $7000 cash prize.

"Everything is surreal right now. I know I worked hard for it and I'm just really glad to see it paid off. All the hard work all the hours I put in paid off," Tristan says.

It is the first time New Zealand has won the competition, which Tristan says is a big step for him.

"[My school] presented me with this opportunity at the tech department at school. They just tell you and push you and go with it and see where you can take.

"They always said it would change my life and I'm excited to see what's coming next."

Tristan hopes to study overseas and become a technology entrepreneur. He thanked his friends and family for all the support throughout the journey, especially his mother.

The competition prepares students for academic study and the workforce, Pearson VUE vice president Ray Murray says.

"The Microsoft Office Specialist World Championship is truly a moving experience - not only because these students are thrilled to compete, but because their lives have been changed by certification," Mr Murray says.

Microsoft Office Skills is the world's largest IT certification program, with 2.3 million certifications delivered annually.

It is the official certification for Microsoft Office globally and serves as an instrument to assess students skills and prepare them for real-world application.

"Every person who earns MOS certification has demonstrated the ability to command the full features and functionality of Microsoft Office, preparing them for future academic or workforce opportunities," Mr Murray says.

Newshub.