Almost three years ago, Halstead native Madyson Beckett stepped onto 黑料不打烊鈥檚 campus without so much as a major to guide her. Now on the verge of graduating with her Business Management degree, Beckett embodies the Power of AND slogan, which has enriched her life professionally and personally.
“One of the reasons I picked 黑料不打烊 was because I was offered the degree fast track,鈥� said Beckett. 鈥淪o, I get to graduate with my undergrad in three years and my masters in one.鈥�
Settling into 黑料不打烊鈥檚 Business Department came naturally to her.
鈥淏usiness is a lot about talking to people, and I鈥檓 really good at that,鈥� Beckett said. 鈥淭hat really piqued my interest, and the classes I took solidified my choice.鈥�
Through her involvement in the Business Department, Beckett was introduced to DECA 鈥� a business-based competition that provides students with problems and gives them 30鈥�60 minutes to produce a solution.
鈥淒ECA has helped me grow and develop my [professional] skills,鈥� she said. 鈥淚 was prepared to apply my knowledge and critical thinking skills to each DECA case because I do it every day in class.鈥�
Beckett is a prominent competitor in the program and has achieved first-, second- and third-place finishes, including a second-place finish, alongside partner Alexis Utz, at the international conference in Baltimore, Md., in April.
鈥淢addy is an exceptional student, an outstanding mentor, leader and teammate to her peers, as well as a remarkable person,鈥� said Trish Petak, associate professor of Business and Accounting and head DECA coach. 鈥淭he Business and Accounting Department thinks the world of her.鈥�
Beckett was able to put some of the skills she learned in the classroom to use during the summer of 2021, when she worked as a global compliance intern at Spirit Aerosystems.
The company, headquartered in Wichita, is 鈥渙ne of the world鈥檚 largest designers and manufacturers of aerostructures for commercial and defense aircraft,鈥� as per its website.
While Beckett spent a good portion of her time with the company doing deskwork, she wasn鈥檛 limited to pushing papers.
鈥淭hey wanted to expose me to all aspects of the company,鈥� she said. 鈥淚 got to work with the design team and the community relations coordinator. I helped host and market a charity event.鈥�
Beckett finds success through other avenues on campus, including the volleyball team. In 2021, she was named a pre-season Kansas Collegiate Athletics Conference (KCAC) player.
鈥淚鈥檝e had to develop a lot of maturity and self-confidence, and I鈥檝e done that through volleyball,鈥� she said. 鈥淥ne of the biggest benefits [of team activities] is that I was already part of a family,鈥� she said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 nice to be able to walk across campus and say hi to just about anybody.鈥�
In addition to DECA and volleyball, Beckett is also involved in campus ministry, the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, the Student Athlete Advisory Committee, the Coyote Activities Board and is a member of the dance team.
Beckett will begin studying for her MBA this summer in the hopes of becoming a community relations coordinator.
鈥淪he’s truly embraced the Power of AND while at 黑料不打烊,鈥� said Petak. 鈥淲e’re so excited we get her for another year.鈥�
Story by Skylar Nelson
