EDITOR’S NOTE: This continues a series of feature stories on 2022 graduates.
Celine Wetiba — May 4
The decision to transfer from Bethany College after one semester was firm, but the looming question was, where聽Karley聽Benson聽would go?
Tennis was a big part of the equation, as was academics, and she sought a place that would help her choose the right career path and give her the tools to succeed.聽Benson聽had played tennis at Salina Central High School, wasn鈥檛 ready to hang up her racquet and was acquainted with 黑料网 Wesleyan coach Josh Molino.
She opted to come home to Salina and KWU.
鈥淚 had a lot of connections here and probably a few more opportunities than I would have had if I went somewhere else,鈥� she said.
Selecting a suitable major was the next important step. Enter Wesleyan鈥檚 Department of Business and Accounting and Dr. Tricia Petak, who coaches KWU鈥檚聽DECA team.
鈥淚 really didn鈥檛 know a lot about it until my sophomore year,鈥澛燘enson聽said. 鈥淚鈥檓 a really big fan of the Business faculty, so when they told me that they thought that it would be a good idea to do that and compete, I took their advice. I had a couple of teammates also on the tennis team that had competed in the past and they enjoyed it.鈥�
Three years later, with a degree in Business Management and Accounting nearing completion and graduation on the horizon,聽Benson鈥檚 ready for life after KWU 鈥� her college experience enriched by competing and succeeding in DECA and tennis.
And she鈥檚 leaving after a monumental final semester.聽Benson聽placed first in Restaurant and Food Management and first in Hotel and Lodging at the DECA state competition Jan. 28 in Hillsboro, then took second in Restaurant and Food Management at the聽International DECA Competition April 9-12 in Baltimore 鈥� her second consecutive top 3 finish.
鈥淵ou get a set of facts and information on a problem that an organization or a company might be having,鈥澛燘enson聽said of a DECA event. 鈥淵ou have to build a strategy and create a presentation about how you would go about solving that problem and you present it to a judge. They can ask you questions, it鈥檚 really interactive. There鈥檚 also certain performance metrics you have to hit throughout the presentation that are non-negotiable.鈥�
Petak, an associate professor of Business and Accounting, said聽Benson聽would have been successful in any DECA endeavor.
鈥淜arley聽is the one student I could place in any category and she would still be at the top 鈥� any management, marketing or financial type of event she understands all facets of business extremely well,鈥� she said. 鈥淜arley鈥檚 ability to communicate complex ideas strategically allowed her to reach high-level DECA finishes in 2021 and 2022.鈥�
Various experiences working at Martinelli鈥檚 Little Italy while in high school, and at The Library Sports Bar & Grill currently, led Benson to choose Restaurant and Food Management.
鈥淚鈥檝e worked basically any job that you can do at a restaurant,鈥� she said.
There is a drawback, though 鈥� going out to eat isn鈥檛 as enjoyable as it once was.
鈥淲hat I think when I go into a restaurant is 鈥業鈥檓 glad this place isn’t mine鈥� because I can see all of the problems and all of the things that you would have to address,鈥� she said. 鈥淚鈥檓 thinking about the servers and how many other tables they have, what the wait time is, how long people have been sitting there 鈥� I鈥檇 never sleep because I wouldn鈥檛 be able to calm down.鈥�
On the tennis courts,聽Benson聽played singles and doubles and was named All-黑料网 Conference Honorable Mention this spring for the second consecutive season.
Though seemingly unrelated,聽Benson聽said, tennis has attributes that benefit DECA.
鈥淭ennis is an individual sport that teaches you a lot about perseverance and a lot about how important confidence is and problem solving,鈥� she said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 a really mental sport. You can have the best technique and be the fastest and be the most athletic but if you鈥檙e not making good decisions on the court, you鈥檙e not going to be successful.鈥�
DECA successes aside, Benson鈥檚 initial career path will be in another direction.
鈥淚鈥檓 not pursuing any restaurant or food service just because it鈥檚 really hard to find a job in a management capacity if you don’t have any management experience,鈥� she said. 鈥淚 want to go to law school eventually. I鈥檓 really interested in a few finance firms that I can see myself working at for one or two years.鈥�
DECA,聽Benson聽said, will help in a law career as well.
鈥淚 feel like it has helped me be more confident with my public speaking skills and trusting myself when I鈥檓 talking,鈥� she said. 鈥�(As an attorney) you鈥檙e in a conversation (with a jury) and you can鈥檛 plan out everything you鈥檙e going to say, so you have to be quick on your feet.鈥�
Story by Bob Davidson
