Students Participated in Model United Nations International Conference, Won Four Awards
Posted on Tuesday, December 6, 2011
Thirty Westminster College students and their faculty adviser participated in the 22nd annual American Model United Nations International Conference Nov. 19-22 in Chicago and earned four awards, the most in school history.
The students are members of Model U.N. at Westminster and were among nearly 1,500 students from 94 colleges and universities representing 127 countries.
The Westminster group represented two countries. The Poland delegation was led by sophomore international politics and Spanish major Teresa Whetstone. The Australia delegation, led by junior political science major James Beaudry, tied with two other delegations to earn the most awards at the conference.
Senior political science majors Steven Fawcett and Alex Scull earned an Outstanding Delegation Award representing Australia on the 1973 Historical Security Council.
"We worked very hard to pass resolutions and make diplomatic compromises with other member nations on the committee," said Scull, a three-time Chicago conference participant. "We discussed the crises in the Middle East, Cyprus, and South Rhodesia. We were called into emergency session at 1 a.m. to deal with the Yom Kippur War. The only resolution that was passed in that session was written by my partner Steve and our friends representing Peru."
Political science majors Katelyn Moga (senior) and Jared Palonis (junior) earned an Outstanding Delegation Award representing Australia on the Commission on Sustainable Development.
This was Moga's fourth time at the Chicago conference. "Last year was the first time anyone from Westminster had won an award and this year, we were able to earn four different honors," she said. "It's great to look back and see the ways our group has improved every year and proven itself against some of the biggest schools in the country."
Junior political science majors Jeremy Hoover and Brandon Shallenberger earned an Outstanding Delegation Award representing Australia on the Economic and Social Council.
Palonis and senior Spanish and international politics major Rebecca Ray earned Best Advocate Awards representing Australia at the International Court of Justice in a case against Japan over the issue of whaling.
Junior political science major Nicole Tesla was attending her second conference, this time as a representative of Poland on the General Assembly Plenary. During the session, illicit drug trade and human trafficking were discussed at length. After co-authoring a resolution to take comprehensive action against human trafficking, Tesla was encouraged to apply for a staff position at next year's conference. She will be notified of a decision early next month.
The students were accompanied by Dr. Michael Aleprete, Westminster assistant professor of political science and faculty adviser to Model U.N. at Westminster. He was pleased with the performance of the Westminster delegations: "It is so difficult to win any awards, which makes four just outstanding. This was our fourth time at the conference and, by far, this was our best group. All of our students were very competitive, active on their committees, and did a wonderful job."
Westminster students received travel/presentation grants from Westminster's Drinko Center for Exellence in Teaching and Learning.
The Drinko Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning was created to enrich undergraduate education at Westminster through advancing world-class teaching as well as by participating in collaborations that address community and regional needs including strengthening K-12 education. The Undergraduate Research Initiative provides funding for students to conduct research and to present their research at regional and national conferences. Click here for more information about the Drinko Center and its programs.
Contact Aleprete at (724) 946-7254 or email for additional information about Model UN and the conference.
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