MEWC
FMWC
TAC
EEO
introduction:
Some MECC stories begin with a phone, a news article, and a curiosity that quietly changes everything.
Federico Landonio stumbled across Microsoft Excel Collegiate Challenge while scrolling through his phone one day. A single article was enough to make him look into it. And once he did, a love of competing took over. What followed was a journey that took him from tracking fantasy sport leagues in Excel to standing on the Las Vegas stage as a 2025 MECC Individual Championships Finalist.
where it all started: a phone, an article and a love of competing
Federico was not introduced to MECC through a professor or a university program. He found it himself, scrolling through the news on his phone.
“I first discovered MECC while I was scrolling the news on my phone. There was an article about it, so I decided to look into it.”
But what made him sign up was something else. A lifelong love of competition that had been part of him long before Excel was ever in the picture. “I always liked competing. I’ve done mathematical competitions and science competitions while I was in school, and so I decided to give it a try.”
That instinct to compete, to test himself against others, would go on to define everything that came next in his journey.
excel before mecc: fantasy leagues and hobby trackers
Before MECC, Federico’s relationship with Excel was casual at best. He knew the basics, understood a little conditional formatting, and used it mainly for personal projects.
“I used it mainly for my hobbies. For example, I used it to keep track of the draft and scoring in a fantasy sport league with my friends, or to keep track of my collection and stuff. But I never really used it for something like the functions you need in the competitions.”
It is a starting point that will resonate with many students who assume MECC is only for those already confident in Excel. Federico’s story proves otherwise. You do not need to be an Excel expert to begin. You just need to be willing to start.
the first competition and the drive to get better
Federico’s first MECC competition was not perfect. But it was the kind of experience that lights a fire.
“My first competition wasn’t too bad, but I was definitely too slow at writing, so I couldn’t finish many exercises because of that.”
But rather than walking away discouraged, Federico took this as an opportunity to get better. He went back and solved the cases after the competition was over.
“Solving them after the competition made me even more interested in getting better, to try to complete 100% of a case one time. I still haven’t got it yet, but I’m getting real close, so I hope it happens soon.”
That mindset of using failure as fuel rather than a reason to stop is part of what MECC builds in every student who sticks with it.
preperation, practice, and learning through life
Here’s what preparation is like from a 2025 MECC Championships finalist.
“When I first started, I’ve done many cases from previous years to understand the functions and maybe learn some tricks to do competition better. But right now, I don’t really have a practice before the competitions. I just use Excel daily for any kind of stuff that I can, so I learn new things and get used to writing faster and stuff like that.”
It is a reminder that growth in Excel does not always come from formal practice sessions. Sometimes it comes from simply using the tool, staying curious, and letting the skills build naturally over time. Federico’s results across multiple Weekend Battles, including consecutive 6th place finishes in Varsity level competitions in early 2026, show that this approach works.
The – means the student competed in both levels and scored above the Varsity median, so their Junior Varsity result is not shown.
las vegas: the moment he will never forget
Of everything Federico has experienced through MECC, one moment stands above all others. The 2025 MECC Championships in Las Vegas.
“My most memorable moment so far is definitely competing in Vegas last year. I didn’t expect to qualify, and I was already really happy to be there.”
But the story did not stop at simply attending. Federico was selected to compete on stage during the semi-finals, live on stream, surrounded by the best players in the competition that year.
“I was a bit nervous because they were all the best players next to me. I was on stream, so I was trying not to be too bad.”
And then came the moment that made it all worthwhile. “I never looked at the standings during the whole competition, and when it finished and I realized I was actually qualified for the finals, that was the best moment for me.”
It is the kind of moment that cannot be manufactured in a classroom. It has to be lived.
More Than a Competition: Federico's Takeaway
When asked what MECC gives students that they cannot find anywhere else, Federico has this to say.
“I think that the opportunity to meet people from all around the world while learning Excel and also having fun competing is unique, and you can’t really find it anywhere else than in MECC.”
And when pressed to choose between the competition, the learning, and the community as his favorite part of MECC, Federico’s answer is wholesome.
“I’d probably say the community because everybody has been really nice to me. Meeting people from all around the world in Vegas has been an amazing experience, and I would probably never have done it if it wasn’t for MECC. So I suggest everybody to try it just to meet people, even if you are not going to win the competition.”
MECC has also changed the way Federico thinks about Excel itself. “I’ve definitely gotten better in Excel thanks to MECC, but I’ve also met many people that have shown me how powerful of a tool Excel can be. Without them, I would have never probably discovered those things.”
His message to any student sitting on the fence about signing up is simple, direct, and completely genuine. “Just try it because you don’t know what you miss until you do it. And don’t focus just on the results but have fun because that’s the most important thing.”
For Federico, the journey is far from over. With strong Weekend Battle results throughout 2025 and 2026 and a Las Vegas Finals appearance already under his belt, the next chapter of his MECC story is still being written. And with more Fall Season Weekend Battles, and the 2026 MECC Team & Individual Championships on the horizon, there has never been a better time for the next student to take that first step.
Sign up, compete, and who knows where MECC might take you. Las Vegas could be closer than you think!
Watch the Full Interview
Hear more about Federico Landonio’s story and the full journey that lead to him competing at the 2025 MECC Championships. Watch the full interview with Federico Landonio here: