Gerardo Delgado Amaya, a ninth-grade student at the Instituto Católico de Oriente (ICO), has achieved third place in the prestigious Microsoft Office Specialist World Championship (MOSWC) held recently in the United States. This accomplishment places him among the top competitors worldwide in Microsoft Word 2019.
“It’s very important to me because it’s a goal I managed to accomplish. Every moment of effort, every sacrifice, every review session with my teacher, my parents, and the TBox company was worth it. It paid off and is now demonstrated with a medal,” Gerardo stated.
Gerardo emphasized that earning a top-three global ranking is no small feat. “A third place on a global scale means being among the best in the world in this category; it means being on par with the people who master this application,” he noted. His familiarity with Microsoft Word 2019 is so extensive that he suggested potential improvements, including making the interface more visually attractive with distinctive images for each section.
The path to this achievement required significant effort and personal sacrifice. Gerardo had to limit his favorite activities, including playing soccer, assembling puzzles, and reading, in order to balance preparation for the MOSWC with his daily academic responsibilities.
Jorge Luis Martínez, ICO’s Computer Science and Robotics professor, praised Gerardo’s dedication: “Throughout his academic career, he has shown exceptional curiosity and interest in technology, which is not easy to awaken in students today. He consistently sets goals and manages to achieve them.”
To qualify for the World Championship, Gerardo earned official Microsoft Word 2019 certification through the TBox educational platform, supported by Certiport. His top score allowed him to advance through the Microsoft Office Specialist National Competition and reach the global stage.
Gerardo’s mother, Blanca Amaya de Delgado, expressed immense pride: “I am proud of my two sons. Last year, Gerardo’s older brother represented El Salvador at the same competition, earning fifth place worldwide and first place in Latin America. Gerardo’s achievement is a source of pride for us as parents; his hard work and dedication truly paid off.”
Looking ahead, Gerardo plans to continue his computer science training at ICO, pursuing certifications in PowerPoint and Excel. He aims to build a university degree in a technology-related field while leveraging his Microsoft Office certifications for future career opportunities.
