Ateneans shine in 2023 Microsoft Excel Collegiate Challenge qualifiers
26 Oct 2023 | Alfonso Miguel N Sevidal
![MECC 2023](/sites/default/files/inline-images/Cover.jpeg)
Students from Ateneo de Manila University put up a strong showing in the online qualifiers of the 2023 Microsoft Excel Collegiate Challenge.
The Microsoft Excel Collegiate Challenge is a global competition for university students that tests Excel modeling and logical thinking skills. The competition involves case studies and the preparation of financial models under individual and team categories.
The competition was organized by the Financial Modeling World Cup and the University of Arizona – Eller College of Management.
Out of more than 3,500 participating students from over 600 universities, three Ateneo students cracked the top 20, eight cracked the top 50, and 16 made the top 100.
![MECC 2023 2](/sites/default/files/inline-images/Body.png)
Management engineering seniors Zefanie Gayle Tan, Mark Samuel Santiago, and Jedric Ivor Zafra ranked fourth, 14th, and 20th respectively. As part of the top twenty, Tan, Santiago, and Zafra will advance to the hybrid finals to be held in Tucson, Arizona on 2 December 2023.
Sinead Dylan Vallester (4 BS ME), Juan Miguel Cardano (4 BSM AMF), Sean Russel Licayan (4 BS ME), Jaime Angelo Nery (4 BSM AMF), and Janna Karyl Quinto (4 BS ME) placed 21st, 26th, 35th, 36th, and 48th respectively.
Likewise making the top 100 were Jared Matthew Ong (4 BS ME, 56th), Christian Sta Maria (4 BS ME, 59th), Albert Matthew Alejo (4 BSM AMF, 60th), Jade Torizo (4 BS ME, 65th), Angela Therese Yu (4 BS ME & AB Ec-H, 72nd), Lance Wesley Villafuerte (4 BS ME, 86th), and Diego Elias Juan (4 BS ME, 91st).
The students were supported in their efforts by Alfonso Miguel N Sevidal (BS ME ’17) and Armin Paul D Allado (BS ME ’12) from the Department of Finance and Accounting, and Beatrice Marie D Chan (BS ME ’23) from the Department of Quantitative Methods and Information Technology.
Recently, the Ateneo, through the John Gokongwei School of Management, became the first MECC Partner School in Southeast Asia. As a Partner School, the Ateneo will have the chance to participate in the team finals, in addition to the individual finals on 2 December.