Melanie Madkin of Pine Bluff was among 11 finalists in the Arkansas State Fair Elite Ms. Queen contest.
“Although, I did not claim the overall crown, it was an honor to be one of the Top 11 Finalists. My final statement for the evening was: ‘Always remember to never allow anyone to put a value on your ‘Crown’…. Your True Crown is Priceless,” Madkin said in a news release.
“It was a great honor to be the only contestant to represent Pine Bluff at a state level,” she said.
Her platform was SEL, social and emotional learning.
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“It is the process through which children, adolescents, and adults learn skills to support healthy development and relationships,” Madkin said.
“Some ways that I have gone out into the community to educate and support the citizens within the community are the following: Teaching and engaging with 6th grade students at Southwood Elementary, being a guest reader for toddlers (teaching them about emotions and it’s okay to deal with them) at the Pine Bluff Library System, and at the Arts and Science Center for the early literacy program, ‘Come Read, Sing, Dance, and Play With Me.’ Parents and their children participated in SEL activities that incorporated singing, dancing, writing, and reading,” she said.
According to Madkin, the benefits of SEL are numerous, including improved mental health, enhanced self-awareness, stronger interpersonal relationships, better academic performance, reduced behavioral issues, increased empathy and compassion, improved decision making, higher emotional intelligence, positive school climate and long-term success.