MVP David Brown created the Microsoft Excel Collegiate Challenge (MECC), a global Excel esports competition that helps students compete for Excel esports glory, global recognition, and career opportunities.
What if crunching numbers could land you on a championship stage in Las Vegas? Welcome to the Microsoft Excel Collegiate Challenge (MECC) - where spreadsheets meet esports, and students battle for the championship in Las Vegas!
Meet the Visionary: MVP David Brown
When the ModelOff competition closed, David Brown, Microsoft MVP and professor, saw a gap for his students. “ModelOff closed and left a void for my students – I had been using it for years as extra credit and enhancement for honors students,” David shares. So, he rallied the Excel community and built MECC to make Excel fun, competitive, and accessible for everyone
David’s advice for anyone starting out? “Change expectations – it’s tough to get students involved when they are so busy. And starting at an easier level – simpler, short challenges – getting more people involved that way. Also, letting myself know how much work it was going to be. Although, I am not sure I would have done it if I knew that, and I am glad I did do it.”
MECC by the Numbers
- 8,000+ students from 800 schools across 110+ countries participated in MECC 2024 - talk about a global spreadsheet showdown!
- The Las Vegas Finals welcomed 100+ students from 13 countries for the in-person championship.
- In 2022, MECC featured 2,730 students from 93 countries and 596 universities/colleges.
- For 2025, the total prize fund for MECC is $34,050 USD!
- Finals events include individual and team battles - recently, 64 individuals and 21 teams competed in semi-finals, with 12 individuals and 4 teams advancing to the grand finals.
- MECC events are streamed live, with tens of thousands watching online and millions of views after the event
What Makes MECC Special?
Epic team battles are a game-changer. “The team competition is a game changer. It’s so much more than just splitting up a case and solving separate parts. The best teams work together to build a solution together, help each other better understand the problem, and mitigate risks that come up in individual modeling. I think the team competition is the future of Excel Esports,” says David.
And the puzzles? “Anything with recursive formulas - maps, capacity estimations (more financial modeling), how important Lambdas. There’s also a famous ‘Lana Banana’ case that may at first seem impossible to solve, until you realize there’s a backwards recursion method to solve it, which is so elegant and beautiful. That was a really great case (but at the pro level),” David recalls.
Microsoft Excel Collegiate Challenge (MECC) championship stage in Las VegasReal-World Impact
MECC isn’t just fun - it’s a launchpad for careers. “Yes, multiple students who have secured internships and jobs through our sponsors and many more who use MECC as talking point in interviews,” David notes. Professors are integrating MECC into coursework, and badges earned in competition help students stand out in interviews.
MVPs Powering the Community
David Brown and other MVPs (plus non-MVPs!) jump in to coach, judge, and energize the Excel community. Their support makes MECC special and helps students reach new heights. As David says:“There is an amazing Excel community – MVPs (and non-MVPs) so willing to help and get involved.”
- Coaching & Mentoring: MVPs like David Brown, Diarmuid Early and Jon Acampora coach student teams, share strategies, and help competitors level up their skills. Their mentorship and expert advice are invaluable for preparation and competition.
- Judging & Event Leadership: MVPs serve as judges at MECC finals, using their deep Excel expertise to evaluate solutions and provide feedback. Their involvement elevates the finals and reinforces the MVP program’s role in shaping the future of Excel education and esports. For example, Oz du Soleil and Giles Male’s presence as commentators elevates the finals by increasing visibility for Excel as a career skill and reinforcing the MVP’s role in shaping the future of Excel education and esports.
- Community Engagement: MVPs energize the Excel community by organizing panels, Ask Me Anything (AMA) sessions, and onboarding initiatives, creating a vibrant, supportive learning environment.
- Advocacy & Visibility: MVPs bring attention to MECC and Excel esports, inspiring new participants and building awareness of the power of Excel in modern careers.
- Shaping the Future: MVPs are at the forefront of new trends, integrating AI and Copilot into competitions, and their feedback helps shape the direction of MECC for future generations.
Excel Esports: What’s Next?
AI and Copilot are entering the mix. “Right now, just can use AI to ask general questions, kind of like advanced googling. It’ll be interesting to see how this develops,” David predicts. “I think it would be really neat for competitors to have to be knowledgeable enough about the AI and what it does well to know what parts of problems to give it and what parts to handle themselves.” David predicts dedicated AI-assisted and AI-free brackets, where knowing how to leverage AI becomes a skill in itself.
Want to Feel Like an Excel Pro?
Even if you never step on the MECC stage, David’s top tip is to master keyboard shortcuts in Excel! “Keyboarding – navigating the grid with the keyboard (and your desktop – Alt-Tab is a huge tool that still shocks students) and use shortcuts – you’ll speed up your workflow and you’ll start to feel like an Excel Esports athlete while you work – who doesn’t want to feel like a pro?”
Ready to Join the Fun?
- Visit the Microsoft Excel Collegiate Challenge website for details, upcoming events, and ways to get involved.
- Check out highlights and tutorials on the Microsoft Excel Collegiate Challenge YouTube Channel for jaw-dropping moments and expert walkthroughs.
- Follow the MECC Championships on their Livestream:
- December 02, 2026 - MECC Semi-Finals on YouTube
- December 03, 2026 - MECC Finals on YouTube
While only students can compete in MECC, professors and Excel enthusiasts can get involved as coaches, judges, or mentors to support the event and its participants. Ready to get involved? Start your MECC journey - Students can sign up today to complete assignments for certificates, practice extra challenges, and compete online, while educators can join as College Ambassadors to help innovate student learning.
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