Appalachian State University students Rachel Hamlin and Ashley Meacham will compete in the Microsoft Excel Collegiate Challenge (MECC) finals in Las Vegas, Nevada, Dec. 2-4, 2024.
Meacham, a senior accounting and finance and banking double major in the Walker College of Business, and Hamlin, a sophomore majoring in international business and minoring in Chinese, earned the opportunity to compete after a strong showing during the Walker College’s online MECC competition in September.
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Meacham and Hamlin can win part of a $33,000 cash prize fund provided by the Active Cell Excel and Financial Modeling Training Camp.
The three-day finals will bring together top collegiate talent, Excel MVPs, and financial modeling experts, showcasing unparalleled skill and innovation in Excel mastery.
Students from Poland, Madagascar, Australia, Austria, Germany, Singapore, Latvia, Lithuania, South Africa, France, Thailand and the United States will compete.
“I am very excited to represent App State on an international stage,” said Hamlin. Meacham added she is "honored to represent Appalachian State University and the Walker College of Business at such an exciting event.”
Hamlin is one of 17 wild card invitees—comprised of exceptional students, top performers, women, and students from developing countries and underrepresented backgrounds—who receives a spot in the individual semifinals on day two. She also receives a ticket to the Active Cell Training Camp, part of MECC’s goal to provide access to talented students worldwide.
“Because I am coming in as a wild card, I look forward to this experience, but I also want to prove that I belong in the semi-finals,” said Hamlin.
Meacham, who previously was part of the Bowden Investment Group’s Broyhill Fellows team that regularly participates in financial competitions, must compete in the Last Chance Qualifier on the first day to advance to the individual semifinals.
“My goals are to learn from as many professionals as possible, network with participating students and industry professionals, be competitive, and showcase our university's commitment to excellence," she said.
64 students will compete in the individual semifinals on day two, and 12 will advance to the finals on day three.
The semi-finals and the finals will be live-streamed on the Microsoft Excel Collegiate Challenge YouTube channel, https://www.youtube.com/@MECC.college/streams.
App State students compete in Microsoft Excel Collegiate Challenge finals in Las Vegas
Hamlin, Meacham