Eller Shines at 2025 Microsoft Excel Collegiate Challenge

On December 3, 39 Eller students competed in the Microsoft Excel Collegiate Challenge in Las Vegas, Nevada. Sponsored by Microsoft, this event brings together top student talent from around the world to showcase skills in data visualization, business and financial modeling, and Excel and AI.

Eller had an outstanding showing, posting the first-ever perfect score in the semi-final round and finishing second overall in a nail-biting final round against INSCAE from Madagascar. Eller student Jackson Weber earned fifth place individually, making him the top American competitor.

In the individual competition, nine of the 64 semi-finalists were Eller students, demonstrating the team’s strong capabilities across nearly every department in the college.

Beyond the competition results, students gained valuable hands-on experience and strengthened their technical and analytical skills. They also had the opportunity to connect with peers and industry leaders from across the globe, learning best practices in business modeling, data analysis, and emerging tools like AI in Excel.

 Many students left the event inspired to continue developing their expertise and are already looking forward to returning to compete next year. 

David Brown, associate professor of finance, was both proud and inspired by the students. “I am so proud of our team and what they accomplished from their hard work over the last few years,” he says. “I am equally excited by what the younger students will do in the future, and I am invigorated by seeing the passion of students from departments all around Eller. I think we have a long run of continued success ahead of us.”

The Microsoft Excel Collegiate Challenge highlights the growing interest in analytics and modeling among Eller students and underscores the college’s commitment to preparing students for careers in business, finance, and data-driven decision-making.