Flora High School students, Sydney Dawkins, Kristen Pipher, Payton Scroggins, Paul Hudson, Qynlin Brown, Hayden Young, Rylie Baker, and Meredith Woolever placed among the top students in Illinois in the 2025 Office Specialist (MOS) State Championship for Fall Semester.
The MOS State Championship consists of six certification exams covering Microsoft Office products such as Word, PowerPoint, and Excel. Sydney Dawkins placed 2nd in Excel; Kristen Pipher placed 1st in PowerPoint (perfect score) and 4th in Excel; Meredith Woolever placed 2nd in PowerPoint (perfect score) and 6th place in Word; Paul Hudson placed 3rd in PowerPoint (perfect score) and 3rd in Word; Qynlin Brown placed 4th in PowerPoint and 2nd in Word; Payton Scroggins placed 1st in Word (perfect score); Hayden Young placed 7th in Word, and Rylie Baker placed 9th in Word. 1st place winners earn the opportunity to attend the Microsoft National Competition in Nashville, Tennessee in June. Students attending the National competition compete against other students from 50 states for scholarships. Kristen attended the competition last summer in Dallas.
These MOS exams are industry-standard assessments and to finish this high in the state proves to potential employers that you have mastered the skills. Flora High School has been a Microsoft testing facility for six years. In addition, Flora High School was one of three schools chosen for the Certiport Marketing Video for the state of Illinois to encourage students to earn these certifications. The video can be found on youtube at “The Impact of Industry Certifications in Illinois”—full length.
Alicia Westjohn, Flora High School Business and Computer teacher earned an award for Outstanding Educator in Illinois during the MOS State Championship. She also presented at the 2025 Dallas Conference, where she shared “How to Develop a Thriving Certification Program in a Small Town”. Many supportive local businesses in the Flora area were discussed as well as the successes of her many students at Flora High School.
Picture left to right front: Qynlin Brown, Hayden Young, Sydney Dawkins, Rylie Baker
back row: Meredith Woolever, Kristen Pipher, Paul Hudson, Payton Scroggins
The MOS State Championship consists of six certification exams covering Microsoft Office products such as Word, PowerPoint, and Excel. Sydney Dawkins placed 2nd in Excel; Kristen Pipher placed 1st in PowerPoint (perfect score) and 4th in Excel; Meredith Woolever placed 2nd in PowerPoint (perfect score) and 6th place in Word; Paul Hudson placed 3rd in PowerPoint (perfect score) and 3rd in Word; Qynlin Brown placed 4th in PowerPoint and 2nd in Word; Payton Scroggins placed 1st in Word (perfect score); Hayden Young placed 7th in Word, and Rylie Baker placed 9th in Word. 1st place winners earn the opportunity to attend the Microsoft National Competition in Nashville, Tennessee in June. Students attending the National competition compete against other students from 50 states for scholarships. Kristen attended the competition last summer in Dallas.
These MOS exams are industry-standard assessments and to finish this high in the state proves to potential employers that you have mastered the skills. Flora High School has been a Microsoft testing facility for six years. In addition, Flora High School was one of three schools chosen for the Certiport Marketing Video for the state of Illinois to encourage students to earn these certifications. The video can be found on youtube at “The Impact of Industry Certifications in Illinois”—full length.
Alicia Westjohn, Flora High School Business and Computer teacher earned an award for Outstanding Educator in Illinois during the MOS State Championship. She also presented at the 2025 Dallas Conference, where she shared “How to Develop a Thriving Certification Program in a Small Town”. Many supportive local businesses in the Flora area were discussed as well as the successes of her many students at Flora High School.
Picture left to right front: Qynlin Brown, Hayden Young, Sydney Dawkins, Rylie Baker
back row: Meredith Woolever, Kristen Pipher, Paul Hudson, Payton Scroggins
Congratulations to Flora Junior Gage Dugan. He is the IHSA & NFHS Spirit of Sport Award 2025-2026 Winner!!
Come out and support the FHS Drama Club!
In 2026, Flora Community Unit School District completed the Parents as Teachers Quality Endorsement and Improvement Process and earned the highest designation: Blue Ribbon Affiliate status. This honor affirms that Flora Community Unit School District ranks among the top providers in the home visitation and parent education field, implementing the evidence-based Parents as Teachers model with fidelity and quality.
