Two 17-year-old Greek students have taken the global stage by storm, claiming top honors at the prestigious Microsoft Office Specialist World Championship held in Florida, USA.

Elena Karakasidou, and Kyriaki Petsa both high school students from Thessaloniki and Athens, have been named world champions in the PowerPoint and Word categories respectively.

Karakasidou clinched the gold medal in her category, while Petsa followed closely with a silver—marking the first time that two Greek female students have secured the top two positions in this international competition.

The young champions traveled to the United States together, accompanied by their dedicated instructors. Karakasidou was trained by Panagiotis Aslanidis, while Petsa was mentored by Georgia Marousiadou.

Their road to victory began earlier this year in Athens, where they emerged as winners in the national qualifying round. Although separated by more than 500 kilometers, the two girls first connected three years ago through Zoom classes offered by the computer learning school ExpertIN in Kavala.

Their digital classrooms not only sharpened their technical skills but also forged a strong friendship.
Now in its 24th year, the Microsoft Office Specialist World Championship challenges students aged 13 to 22 from over 140 countries to demonstrate their mastery of Microsoft applications such as Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. It’s a globally recognized platform that spotlights digital literacy and student achievement.

Upon her return to Greece, Karakasidou received a hero’s welcome at Thessaloniki’s Macedonia Airport. Her family, friends, classmates, and a delegation from the Municipality of Kalamaria greeted her with heartfelt celebrations—including traditional music with lyres and drums.

“The reception was as warm as it was deserved for a student who honored our community and proved that the youth of Kalamaria can reach the top of the world,” stated a release from the Municipality of Kalamaria, Thessaloniki.