Madewell headed to DECA nationals
After besting her peers at the regional and state DECA competitions, Warren County High School senior Toni Madewell will head to national DECA competition in Nashville next week.
There she will go up against close to 13,000 students from across the country in 12 categories in seeking scholarships and other honors.
A national association of marketing students, DECA’s mission is to help students develop skills and competence for marketing careers, build self-esteem, experience leadership and practice community service. The 170,000-member organization was formed in Tennessee in 1943.
The national food marketing competition for Madewell will consist of two major parts. The first, a comprehensive written exam, will feature a 100-question multiple choice exam testing the knowledge, skills and attitudes associated with food marketing.
Two role-playing events make up the second portion of the competition. In each event, participants are given 10 minutes to review a written scenario. After brief preparation, students must accomplish a given task by translating what they have learned in the classroom and real life into effective, efficient and spontaneous action.
At the state competition held last month, scenarios had Madewell set up an imaginary security system to stop customer and employee theft at a grocery store, as well as a caterer dealing with a last-minute wedding cancellation.
Madewell said she is confident about the upcoming competition. What she’s learned under the tutelage of marketing teacher Nancy Mayfield, combined with the practical experience she’s gained working at Delores’ Market, have positioned her well, she said.
When asked how she thought Madewell might fare at the national competition, Mayfield said she thinks her student’s chances are good.
“Tennessee has one of the largest and toughest DECA groups in the country. If Toni can make it through the state competition, I think her chances are good at nationals,” Mayfield said.