MEWC
FMWC
TAC
EEO
introduction:
Matthew Rabanal already had a strong foundation for Excel. He was the person his University of Central Florida classmates came to when they had a spreadsheet problem. He had fun with functions, enjoyed exploring features, and felt genuinely comfortable in the tool most students only tolerate.
What he had never done was compete with it.
Microsoft Excel Collegiate Challenge changed that. And what started as something that simply sounded fun quickly turned into one of the most challenging, rewarding, and genuinely unique experiences of his student journey.
two conversations and a decision
Matthew first heard about MECC through a classmate who had already been to Las Vegas for the competition. Then he heard about it again at a firm networking event through a colleague. Two separate conversations, two separate contexts, and the same reaction both times.
It sounded fun.
“Even before doing MECC, I had a lot of fun working with Excel, like using different features and functions and stuff, so it sounded like a really fun event.”
For someone who already enjoyed Excel, the idea of competing with it was not a hard sell. The harder part was discovering just how much further there was to go once the competition started.
skilled but never tested
Before MECC, Matthew had more Excel experience than most students his age. He was known for it among his peers and had put the tool to use in ways that went beyond the standard classroom requirements.
But knowing Excel and competing in Excel are two very different things.
“I had never done anything competitive before, against other people. So it was a really cool experience to be able to participate in a competition and solve challenges under real pressure.”
That distinction between knowing a skill and performing it under pressure is one of the most important things MECC teaches, and it is something no amount of solo practice can fully prepare you for.
a practice approach built on honesty
Matthew’s approach to competition preparation is straightforward and honest about what works and what he still wants to improve.
“Most recently, what I’ve done is for the Weekend Battle. I looked at the Junior Varsity Challenge first, and that gave me sort of an idea of what I might see. And then I looked at the Varsity Challenge. By the time that I got to the Varsity Challenge, I was able to be more prepared and have some issues in my methodology worked out.”
But he is equally clear about where he wants to go next. More cases. More walkthroughs. Faster reasoning under pressure. It is the kind of self awareness that separates students who plateau from those who keep climbing.
The – means the student competed in both levels and scored above the Varsity median, so their Junior Varsity result is not shown.
the first competition
Matthew’s first MECC competition was four challenges back to back, all under time pressure. He made mistakes. He learned from them. And despite the difficulty, he left with something he had not expected.
“You get your brain working on all the different puzzles, and it’s a really cool experience that you don’t really get in a lot of other places.”
That last part is worth sitting with. Not in a classroom. Not in an internship. Not in any other student experience. There is something specific to MECC competition, the combination of time pressure, real problems, and genuine stakes, that cannot be replicated anywhere else.
The moment he built something to be proud of
Of all the moments Matthew has experienced through MECC so far, one stands above the rest. Not because of the result, but because of what he built in the process.
During the Regionals Visual Case, he was faced with a series of complicated steps that had to be applied not once but eight times simultaneously across individual questions. Most people would have solved it step by step and hoped the time held out.
Matthew did something different.
“I had this big process laid out that was a lot of different steps, and I put it together in one nested step, in one function.”
It is the kind of moment that only comes from being pushed further than you have been before. A problem that seemed impossibly layered, solved in a single elegant move. “That was a really cool experience where I got to build something that I could really be proud of.”
what it changed and what comes next
MECC did not just give Matthew a new competitive outlet. It completely recalibrated how he sees his own abilities in Excel.
“MECC has helped me realize that I really have a lot to learn when it comes to Excel. There’s a lot that I do know already and a lot that I can apply, but there’s still a lot that I don’t know how to do.”
That kind of honest self assessment, knowing what you have while staying hungry for more, is exactly the mindset MECC builds. And when asked what the experience gives students that they simply cannot find anywhere else, Matthew’s answer is precise.
“You get a unique puzzle-solving experience. With something that you’re already learning for school, you can see how can we apply it in a context that’s not just work, but also fun. And you get to show off that you are able to use Excel in a more professional context.”
His message to any student sitting on the fence is short and confident. “Just join. You don’t know what you’re gonna get out of it if you don’t try it. Just try it. You never know, you might have a lot of fun.”
Matthew came to MECC already knowing Excel. He is leaving it knowing himself as a competitor a little better too. With the MECC Championships in Las Vegas in December, the time is now for the next student to begin their journey and show everyone what they’re capable of.
Watch the Full Interview
Hear more about Matthew Rabanal’s story and the full journey of learning and competition he’s had with MECC so far!