The Gatton College of Business and Economics once again made a strong showing on the global stage as three University of Kentucky students competed at the 2025 Microsoft Excel World Collegiate Challenge in Las Vegas, Nevada. The team earned an impressive fifth-place finish, continuing Gatton’s growing reputation in this competition.
This year’s competition drew nearly 10,000 students from 900 schools across more than 125 countries, making it one of the most competitive fields the event has ever seen. The UK team arrived in Las Vegas with one returning member from last year’s championship roster and two first-time competitors. John Lubert, Colin Albrecht (returning member) and Paul Kreinbrink advanced through multiple rounds of challenging case problems before placing fifth overall and securing 22nd, 28th, and 29th respectively in the individual standings.
“Being a first-time competitor, I was proud of the way I competed,” said John Lubert. “I was able to gain so much knowledge and experience through this competition, and I know that I will be even more ready to represent the University of Kentucky next year.”
For a team of only three students, the result is remarkable, especially as many schools brought significantly larger contingents. Some universities sent ten or more competitors; the University of Arizona brought forty. Despite being outnumbered, UK’s students held their ground and remained contenders until the very end. Faculty mentors John Saliling and Leonce Bargeron coached the team throughout the semester, working with them closely and helping them get to the world stage.
“They were right on the edge of breaking into the final four,” said John Saliling, faculty advisor for the team and lecturer in Gatton’s John Maze Stewart Department of Finance and Quantitative Methods. “It came down to the last problem. They were close—painfully close—but that’s part of what makes this competition so exciting. The level of talent out there is incredible.”
The event also showcased just how quickly Excel is evolving. Students used advanced tools, including Lambda functions and custom-built libraries, to solve complex data challenges under pressure. The Gatton team embraced these innovations, sharpening technical skills that are becoming increasingly relevant in today’s analytics-driven workplace.
This was Gatton’s second year participating in the championship. Last year, the team placed third at the December world finals and went on to take the world champion title at a rematch held in Dallas. While the students hoped to return to the winner’s podium this year, Saliling says the experience was a success in every way that matters.
“If you’re new to this competition, finishing fifth in the world is something to be proud of,” Saliling said. “The students pushed themselves, learned a lot, and represented the university with real professionalism. I couldn’t be more proud.”
As interest in analytics careers continues to climb, Gatton’s Excel team plans to keep building momentum for next year’s season. For questions on the Microsoft Excel Collegiate Challenge or Gatton’s Excel Financial Modeling Team, please contact John Saliling (john.saliling@uky.edu) or Leonce Bargeron (leonce.bargeron@uky.edu).
