A total of 189 students at two Indian Prairie School District 204 high schools earned industry-recognized professional certifications this semester in Adobe and Microsoft software.
The district announced June 8 that 108 Neuqua Valley and 81 Waubonsie Valley students passed Certiport exams, earning credentials recognized by employers across tech, design, and business fields.
The certification's website promises "to build a skilled workforce that meets the needs of local employers and government tech initiatives," citing Adobe, Microsoft, Cisco, Pearson, and IC3.
"One of the most prominent discrepancies concerns how much career seekers underestimate how much hiring managers want to see creative problem solving and technical, visual and multimedia skills represented in their applications, especially via digital credentials," a research report from Edelman and Adobe cited.
According to research from Edelman and Adobe, 35 per cent of U.S. hiring managers think professional certifications demonstrate needed skills.
The Adobe Certification Professional certification prepares students for the future of AI and social media content creation.
One Neuqua Valley senior Rohit Fuldeore placed fifth in Illinois for Microsoft Excel 365 applications during the Spring Qualifier of the 2026 Microsoft Office Specialist U.S. National Championship.
The qualifier ran from December 20, 2025, through May 1, 2026. The national championship is scheduled for June 15–17.
The MOS national competition offers scholarship prizes of $3,000 for first place, $2,000 for second, and $1,000 for third. The national champion advances to the MOS World Championship, where the top prize is an $8,000 scholarship.
