Alma College Model United Nations teams received two Outstanding Delegation distinctions for the fifth straight year at the National Model UN simulations in New York in March. Alma’s three delegations of the Model UN Team at the Midwest Model UN conference in February in St. Louis took three of the five top awards.
Representing the African nation of Gambia and the non-governmental organization (NGO) Concern Worldwide at the national competition, both Alma delegations received the highest possible delegation awards and also received Outstanding Position Paper recognition for their written work.
The two national Outstanding Delegation awards bring Alma’s total to 15 outstanding recognitions. Alma has received a top award at the world’s largest and most prestigious collegiate Model UN conference 10 of the last 11 years and nine consecutive years.
Alma is one of seven institutions receiving multiple recognitions in one year since the conference began as the National Model League of Nations in 1923.
The competition recognized 13 delegations including Alma as outstanding this year. Alma competed against 240 colleges and universities from around the country and the world with more than 3,300 students, including 50 international delegations.
Model UN is an attempt to replicate the real United Nations in a competitive manner. Teams of college students take on identities of countries, and delegates from each country meet in committee to propose, discuss and debate topics ranging from finance to refugees to AIDS. Once resolutions are completed in committee, they are presented to the Model UN replication of the UN General Assembly to be further debated before the assembly votes on resolutions.
Students met in committees writing resolutions and reports, caucusing, and engaging in formal debate about their committee’s concerns. The closing session was held at the UN headquarters.
Skip Traynor
