LEBANON – Lebanon was crowned world champion at the Microsoft and Adobe World Championships, held in California, United States, from July 26 to 29, with nearly 200 competitors representing more than 35 countries from around the world.
Lebanon achieved a remarkable global accomplishment by securing first place worldwide in the Microsoft Word category, with student Reem Al Shafi from Hariri High School II being crowned world champion in the category.
The Lebanese national team also achieved outstanding results across several categories. Ahmad Matar from the Lebanese University secured fourth place worldwide in the Excel 365 category, while Maria Abi Khalil from the American University of Beirut ranked fourth worldwide in the PowerPoint 2019 category.
In other results, Mohammad Shabo from Rafic Hariri High School – Saida ranked sixth worldwide in the PowerPoint 365 category, while Perla Kassis from Beirut Evangelical School ranked seventh worldwide in the Word 365 category. Mounir Al-Ashi Shbeib from Rafic Hariri University also secured eighth place worldwide in the Adobe Certified Professional competition.
This achievement highlights the ability of Lebanese youth to compete, innovate, and achieve outstanding results on the international stage despite the economic and social challenges facing Lebanon.
It also underscores the importance of investing in education, skills development, and supporting young talent.
Upon their arrival at the VIP Lounge of Beirut–Rafic Hariri International Airport, the Lebanese delegation was welcomed by a number of officials and supporting figures, as well as family members and friends who gathered at the airport to celebrate this national achievement in an atmosphere of joy and pride.
The national team's partners, ITLS and the Makassed Foundation, praised the achievement of the Lebanese students, emphasizing that providing educational and training opportunities for young people represents a genuine investment in Lebanon's future.
They also stressed that Lebanese youth possess the skills and capabilities needed to compete globally and raise Lebanon's name at international events and platforms.
