Downey High junior named California Microsoft PowerPoint champion

DOWNEY — Downey Unified announced that Downey High School’s Aakriti Shaw, a junior in the Business Career Technical Education (CTE) program, has been named the California Microsoft Champion in Microsoft PowerPoint, qualifying her for the 2026 Microsoft Office Specialist (MOS) U.S. National Championship.

Aakriti earned the state title after achieving the top score in California on the rigorous Microsoft Office Specialist certification exam for PowerPoint (Microsoft 365 Apps). Her success marks the fourth consecutive year that Downey High School has produced a California state champion, a testament to the school’s strong CTE programs and commitment to preparing students with industry-recognized skills.

As California’s champion, Aakriti will advance to the MOS U.S. National Championship, hosted by Certiport, a Pearson VUE business, and sponsored by Microsoft. The national competition will take place in mid-June in Nashville, Tennessee.

The Microsoft Office Specialist U.S. National Championship is a highly competitive event that brings together the nation’s top student scorers in Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. Participants have the opportunity to network, compete, earn national recognition, and develop professional and leadership skills while competing for scholarships, prizes, trophies, and the title of U.S. national champion. Top finalists may also earn the opportunity to represent the United States at the MOS World Championship.

During the three-day event, competitors will participate in leadership workshops, testing sessions, and professional learning experiences, culminating in a national awards ceremony recognizing the country’s top performers.

“Aakriti’s achievement reflects an extraordinary level of dedication, skill, and professionalism,” said Tom Houts, principal of Downey High School. “We are incredibly proud of her and of the opportunities our CTE programs provide students to excel at the state and national levels.”

Downey High School’s Business CTE pathway emphasizes hands-on learning, real-world application, and industry certifications that give students a competitive edge for college and future careers. Aakriti’s success exemplifies the impact of these pathways and serves as an inspiration to students across campus.