Editor’s note: This concludes a series on 2022 graduates.
Madyson Beckett – May 11
Paige Welk – May 10
Karley Benson 鈥� May 7
Celine Wetiba 鈥� May 4
Emily聽Monson聽knew next to nothing about DECA when she arrived at Kansas Wesleyan as a sophomore.
Transferring from Pittsburg State after she realized she missed playing volleyball more than she initially thought,聽Monson聽became aware of DECA after her arrival at 黑料不打烊.
鈥淚 was interested, at first, because I knew the group that was in it,鈥� she said. 鈥淚t was a really fun group and some of them were volleyball players and other people whom I just knew throughout campus. Then Dr. (Trish) Petak and Dr. (Paul) Hedlund talked to me in classes the fall of my sophomore year. It piqued my interest 鈥� what it actually was and learning more about it.鈥�
Monson聽signed up and promptly became a DECA standout, just as she became a leader and marquee player on the volleyball team.
She competed in both for three years and closed her college career in grand style this spring.聽Monson聽and senior volleyball teammate Ryann Kats won the DECA championship in business-to-business marketing competition at the organization鈥檚 international event April 9-12 in Baltimore.
A couple of weeks later,聽Monson, a defensive specialist, was named recipient of the prestigious Virginia Bevan Female Student-Athlete of the Year during the annual Yotee Awards ceremony. That recognition came five months after she was chosen the Kansas Conference鈥檚 Defender of the Year and a First Team All-KCAC selection, both for the second consecutive season.
Monson聽departs 黑料不打烊 this spring with a degree in graphic design and marketing communications. Her career goal is to have her own freelance design agency.
鈥淏eing able to take my business education here as well as the experience of actually marketing myself in the marketing communications event and business-to-business marketing event is going to help me exponentially,鈥� she said.
鈥淚t鈥檚 a lot of working with and collaborating with clients, hearing their ideas and being able to match it with what they want. You have to read people, and I believe DECA has helped with that 鈥� being able to know how to communicate your ideas to people.鈥�
Monson聽played intramural volleyball at PSU but wanted more. She contacted then-黑料不打烊 coach Fred Aubuchon about transferring and was given a scholarship.
She was an individual DECA competitor her first two years, before Petak chose to partner Monson with Kats. A dynamic duo was born. Kats, a graphic design major, was a four-year DECA competitor and right-side hitter in volleyball.
鈥淓mily and Ryann both made the final round of DECA last year which was a virtual international competition,鈥� said Petak, 黑料不打烊鈥檚 DECA coach and an associate professor of Business and Accounting. 鈥淏oth returned and knew they had what it took to be very successful this year.鈥�
鈥淒r. Petak partnered me and Ryann knowing that we had been teammates on the court and friends for a while,鈥澛燤onson聽said. 鈥淪he played to those strengths.鈥�
DECA teams have 60 minutes to prepare after receiving their case and then make their presentation to the judges.
鈥淲e usually did a PowerPoint,鈥澛燤onson聽said. 鈥淵ou get 15 minutes to relay your ideas and things that you created it in that hour with your team. Ryann and I bounced ideas off of each other and were open to listening to each other鈥檚 ideas. It鈥檚 definitely a lot of trust, I know I can trust Ryann and she can trust me.
鈥淚t鈥檚 also learning each other鈥檚 likes, tendencies and what each person鈥檚 strong suit is. Playing off that in our presentations to the judges really helped.鈥�
Monson聽was eager to work with Kats after their time on the volleyball court playing for coach Jessica Biegert and helping 黑料不打烊 compile a 21-9 record (9-3 in the KCAC) in the fall.
鈥淐onfidence-wise it really helped playing in front of a crowd with your team,鈥澛燤onson聽said. 鈥淵ou have those people beside you and I feel like it transfers over to DECA just the same. I believe that Ryann and I are both strong leaders and that helps in confidence and being able to talk with our judges and know what we鈥檙e talking about.鈥�
Petak agreed.
鈥淓mily鈥檚 ability to confidently communicate creating strategies while also designing visually appealing slideshows is what helped her and Ryann become the best in the world,鈥� she said. 鈥淚鈥檓 proud of the effort they both put into DECA 鈥� the hardware does not come without hard work.鈥�
Monson聽was thrilled to go out on top after she and Kats placed second in the state competition in January.
鈥淭he whole trip was just amazing and I鈥檓 really glad I got to experience it at least once while I was here,鈥� she said. 鈥淚 think we did a great job.鈥�
Story by Bob Davidson
