Alma Shines Again at National Model UN Conference
When it comes to Model United Nations, Alma College sets the standard.
For the second straight year, all three of Alma’s Model UN teams received “outstanding” delegation awards, the highest recognition possible, at the National Model UN Conference in New York City April 7-11.
Alma is the only school in the 87-year history of the national conference to have received three “outstanding” awards in a single year. Alma has received at least one “outstanding” award in each of the last 13 years and has won 24 “outstanding” awards in the last 15 years, the highest tally of any school at the conference.
“The students’ performance this year was staggering,” said faculty advisor Derick “Sandy” Hulme. “This year’s conference was the most competitive conference in the 16 years we have participated, and some of the schools that have done extremely well in the past were fortunate to earn honorable mentions this year.
“To get three outstanding delegation awards, and for 13 out of the 35 students on our team to receive individual delegate awards, was simply astounding. It was a dominating performance,” said Hulme.
The Alma student delegations represented the countries of Antigua and Barbuda, Mauritania, and Tuvalu.
The national conference is the largest and most prestigious collegiate Model UN competition in the world, with nearly 5,000 students competing on behalf of approximately 300 colleges and universities from more than 30 countries from all continents.
Model UN attempts 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.
Antigua and Barbuda delegation:
Nicole Bursach, Greenville freshman
Meredith Campbell, Grosse Pointe Farms senior
Christopher Chesney, Brownstown junior
Chelsea Clark, Coopersville sophomore
* Margaret Curtiss, Saginaw sophomore
Taylor Gibson, Gowen junior
Kristin Haight, Cadillac senior
Erik Hanser, Detroit sophomore
Annie Jennings, Augusta junior
* Kim Joki, Greenville senior
* Sandra McCormick, Dimondale sophomore
Samantha Russell, Alma senior
Ben Schippers, Traverse City freshman
Mauritania delegation:
James Allen IV, Harbor Springs senior
* Rachel Blackhurst, Midland junior
Kristin Blommer, Charlotte freshman
* Drew Emge, Bay City senior
* Dan Fraser, Lexington senior
Sarah Herpst, Traverse City freshman,
Charlotte Hulme, Alma dual enrolled student
Danielle Jellison, Ithaca junior
Brittany Law, Hartland senior
* Erica Maylee, Mount Pleasant dual enrolled student
Spencer Caldwell-McMillan
* Emily Neil, Midland junior
* Kyle Payne, Elsie sophomore
* Aaron Pooley, Reed City senior
* Katy Rice, Oakland Township sophomore
Kyla Wojtas, Macomb sophomore
Tuvalu delegation
* David Bechtold, Idaho Falls, Idaho, junior
Sarah Bechtold, Idaho Falls, Idaho, freshman
Letha Dolza, Ann Arbor junior
* Ruth Douglas, Williamston freshman
Todd Lyman, Onekama sophomore
Lauren Shaw, Saginaw sophomore
* These students received "outstanding delegate" recognition for their individual performances.
Posted: Tue, April 14th, 2009 at 4:58PM
