MEWC
FMWC
TAC
EEO
introduction:
Most students sign up to the Microsoft Excel Collegiate Challenge and jump straight into competing. Juan Vicente Olave Rodríguez took a different approach entirely.
He signed up in December of 2023, assessed the level honestly, decided he was not ready, and spent an entire season doing nothing but improving. No shortcuts. No rushing. Just deliberate, patient preparation with a single goal in mind.
By 2025 he was in the Las Vegas Finals. By 2026 he had claimed a first place finish in the Varsity Weekend Battle. His story is not one of instant success. It is something more interesting than that.
A search, a decision, and a longer game
Juan did not stumble across MECC by accident. He went looking for it.
“I first heard about MECC while searching for international student finance competitions. I wanted to challenge myself at the highest level and prove what I could do.”
He signed up in 2023 and started competing in 2025. But what happened next sets Juan apart from a lot of other students in the MECC community. Rather than diving in unprepared, he took stock of where he was and made a calculated decision.
“At the time, I realized the level was still too high for me, since I was in my 4th semester, so I decided to spend that season improving my Excel skills and preparing myself to eventually win one day.”
That kind of self awareness is rare at any age. For a student still in the early stages of their university career, it is remarkable.
starting from the basics
Before MECC, Juan’s Excel knowledge was limited to what his finance classes had covered. No shortcuts. No advanced formulas. Just the essentials required to pass his coursework.
“MECC completely changed that for me and took my Excel skills to a much higher level.”
It is a transformation that did not happen overnight. It came through consistent practice, deliberate study, and the kind of focused preparation that only happens when someone genuinely wants to improve and win.
the first competition and the motivation it created
By the time Juan entered his first MECC competition in January 2025, he had already watched the 2024 finals more than fifteen times. Not once. Not twice. Fifteen times.
“Seeing myself among those top competitors motivated me even more to compete.”
The result of that first competition was not what he had hoped for. But rather than discouraging him it did exactly what losing tends to do to the right kind of competitor.
“I did not get a good result, but honestly, that only pushed me harder. It made me want to practice more, improve faster, and come back stronger.”
The trajectory that followed tells the full story. From a 37th place finish in the January 2025 Varsity Weekend Battle, Juan steadily climbed. By June 2025 he was finishing 2nd in Varsity. By August he had won the Junior Varsity Weekend Battle outright. And by the end of 2025 he had reached the MECC Championship Individual Final in Las Vegas.
The – means the student competed in both levels and scored above the Varsity median, so their Junior Varsity result is not shown.
las vegas and what it really meant
For Juan, the 2025 Vegas experience was the defining moment of his MECC journey so far. Not just because of the competition, but because of everything that surrounded it.
“Over those 5 days, I really felt what MECC is about. Between the long flight, the airport overnight stay, and everything that came with the trip, it became much more than a competition for me.”
He finished 8th in the Individual Final, a remarkable result for a student who had only started competing that year. But what stayed with him was not just the placement. It was the people, the city, and the atmosphere of being part of something genuinely global.
“I got to know one of the most amazing cities in the world and meet very intelligent, dedicated people. The friends I made in Vegas, and being part of such a multicultural group, is something I truly appreciate.”
what mecc is really about what what comes next
When asked what aspect of MECC he enjoys most, Juan reveals an honest answer. Competition is what drives him. But he is clear that it does not exist in isolation.
“I have always felt that competition brings out the best in me and pushes me to grow faster in every part of my life. That said, I also really value the learning experience and the community. It’s great to have people I can learn from and rely on as I keep improving.”
His results in 2026 show exactly what that combination of competition, community, and learning produces. A 1st place Varsity Weekend Battle finish in January. Consistent top six placements across individual and team competitions. A student who arrived at MECC wondering if the level was too high and is now consistently competing at the very top of it.
taking on the challenge before you feel ready
His message to any student sitting on the fence is rooted in exactly the experience that shaped him.
“I would tell them that MECC is one of the most valuable experiences an international student can have. It is not just about competing in Excel; it is about challenging yourself, growing faster than you thought possible, and putting yourself in an environment where you can become better.”
Juan signed up before he felt ready. He spent a season preparing instead of rushing. And when he finally stepped onto the Las Vegas stage, he belonged there.
Having already qualified for the MECC Team Championships in Las Vegas in December through Team e-Invitationals, his next chapter is already in motion. And for the students watching from the sidelines wondering if the level is too high, Juan’s answer is the same one he gave himself back in 2023.
“Even if you feel unprepared, that is exactly why you should sign up”
With the MECC Championships in Las Vegas in December, your stage is already within reach.
READ THE FULL STORY
Read the full story of Juan Vicente Olave Rodríguez’s journey of preparation through patience and the drive to compete at the highest level of Student Excel Esports: