A student in the School of Business at Southern Adventist University received the second highest score in Tennessee on the Microsoft Excel Specialist Fall 2020 certification exam. Jacob Bradshaw, a junior finance major and resident of Ooltewah, scored 914/1000 on the test, and Certiport, a national testing center, notified the university of his standing in the state.
“We’re so proud of Jacob for this high achievement,” said Stephanie Sheehan, PhD, dean of the School of Business. “His success affirms our efforts to provide credentialing opportunities to our students, further developing competencies that will be of value to both them and their future employers.”
Completed by Mr.
Bradshaw in November 2020, this test serves as the final exam for the Business Computer Applications class offered by the university to both business majors and those in other academic programs.
“Since Excel is used extensively by corporations, nonprofits, and entrepreneurs, this training and certification gives our students an advantage in the job market,” said Mike McClung, instructor of the class and associate director for Information Technology at Southern.
“When I interned at Kettering Health Network in Ohio, the first thing my boss told me was that understanding the ins and outs of Excel was necessary if I wanted to get ahead. I took that advice to heart and worked hard in this class,” Mr. Bradshaw said. “The School of Business faculty recognize the importance of Excel, and they make sure that we learn as much about it as possible. I was honestly very surprised that I placed so highly in the state, but I guess I still left myself some room for improvement.”