[ back ]
Reynoldsburg senior to vie for international position
(by Christine Bryant, Eastside Editor - April 02, 2009)
A Reynoldsburg High School senior will travel to California this month to persuade more than 450 student delegates from all over the world that she should be an international leader.
Madeline Hendren will be one of three candidates who will vie for the office of president of Distributive Education Clubs of America (DECA), an association of marketing students.
Hendren was invited to run for the position in which she would represent the United States after an Ohio DECA official first interviewed her for a state position.
"Because he was impressed with her interview, he offered the option of running for an international office," said Kim Pennycuff, adviser of Reynoldsburg High School's DECA.
Hendren's campaigning will begin April 29 in Anaheim, Calif., when the majority of her time will be spent persuading voting delegates from each of the 50 states, as well as Guam, Puerto Rico, Germany and Canada.
"Each state or country will have their own caucus, where I will meet with the voting delegates from that particular state and they will have an opportunity to ask me questions and learn more about me," Hendren said. "There will also be several formal sessions, which will include giving a speech and formal Q and A."
Hendren also will run a campaign booth inside the convention center that will be staffed by members from across Ohio.
Her platform consists of four parts that each coincide with her slogan, "There is No Day Like Today."
"The first part is about how I can help the individual DECA member get the most out of DECA," she said. "The second is to encourage DECA to go green and save money at the same time by recycling or reducing paper use."
The third part encourages community service and raising money for causes like Muscular Dystrophy Association and the Special Olympics.
"My last part is spreading the word about DECA," she said. "Members deserve recognition for their accomplishments from prospective colleges and employers. By making more companies and universities aware of our association, it will help DECA members in the long run."
If elected, Hendren would be requested to postpone college for one year, Pennycuff said.
In that time, Hendren would sit on several boards and councils in DECA and would be a spokesperson for the organization.
"She will speak at many different events," Pennycuff said. "She will be meeting with CEOs and with different companies serving on the boards. She will have opportunities that are unheard of at that age level."
Hendren says she plans to attend St. Louis University where she will major in Communications with a minor in Marketing.
While in college, she plans to study abroad for a semester in Madrid.
"DECA has given me the opportunity to dream big and to go far," Hendren said.
Also competing in Anaheim in the community service project category will be senior Jenelle Krumlauf for her work with Nellie's Catwalk for Kids, a charity fashion show.
[ back ]
