Hull College student one of UK & Ireland’s top Microsoft Word experts

HIGH PERFORMER: Natalia Loska

By Rick Lyon

A Level 2 online Business student at Hull College is one of the best in the UK and Ireland at using Microsoft Word.

Natalia Loska represented Hull College in the Microsoft Office Specialist (MOS) UK & Ireland Championship Final after placing in the top 10 out of 15,000 students in the MOS examinations during the 2022/23 academic year.

The 21-year-old, who emigrated from Poland to the UK at the age of 10, registered an impressive score of 82 per cent in her Word Expert Certification exam and, although this wasn’t enough to secure the chance to represent UK & Ireland at the MOS World Championships in Orlando in July, Natalia was justifiably proud with a final standing of third place.

She said: “Competing has been a really positive and interesting experience. Achieving the title of Microsoft Office Specialist was a big achievement in itself, but to make the top 10 and qualify for a place in the UK and Ireland finals made me so happy.

“Scoring 82 per cent in the final exam felt incredible. I didn’t know I was capable of achieving such a high mark, especially with it being an expert-level exam.

“To get to that level, showcase my advanced skills in Word and finish third in my category was an amazing achievement - one that gave me immense satisfaction and a real sense of pride.

‘FANTASTIC SUCCESS STORY’: Hull College

“I was also very proud to represent Hull College and the city of Hull in a national competition. The college and my amazing tutor, Ted Van Hessen, gave me an incredible amount of support in the build-up to the finals and were always on hand to offer any help or advice I needed.

“Having the Microsoft Office Specialist qualification is a fantastic addition to my CV and will hopefully help me stand out. And studying my online Business course at Hull College will definitely help and support me with all of the necessary employability skills, including Microsoft Office and business administration, so that I am ready for the next step in my life.”

Employability Tutor Ted Van Hessen said: “Natalia is a fantastic success story, not only for the college but herself as well.

“She was a quiet, unassuming superstar in her Microsoft Office Specialist course earlier this year. Other learners on the course were motivated by Natalia’s commitment and competency and, despite her age, she became a quiet leader and source of resource for her peers.

“She excelled as a student, achieving outstanding results on her course and her exams, but more than that, Natalia excelled as a human being. There is no doubt in my mind that Natalia will be a success at anything she puts her mind to.”