ROCK HILL, SOUTH CAROLINA – The Winthrop University Model United Nations Program brought home several awards as students tested their global knowledge at two recent regional conferences.
Nineteen Winthrop students competed against other collegiate delegates from 30 institutions at the 34th Annual Southern Regional Model United Nations Conference (SRMUN) Nov. 16-18 in Atlanta, Georgia.
Political Science Professor Jennifer Disney said that Winthrop is recognized for having outstanding delegates and a history of award-winning success at this conference. “We are thrilled to continue the success established by founding Director Dr. Melford Wilson and his successor, Dr. Chris Van Aller,” said Disney, who is chair of the Department of Political Science and Director of the Model United Nations Program at Winthrop.
Winthrop had eight student award winners out of 19 participating students win four awards across its four delegations: Algeria, Canada, Cuba, Haiti.
And next March, hundreds of high school students from the Carolinas will flock to Winthrop to participate in the university’s 48th Annual Model United Nations Conference.
Disney called participation in the United Nations program a transformative experience because it helps students cultivate a sense of professionalism, develop public speaking, writing, and collaboration skills, and think about global challenges from different member state perspectives. The college students who take the United Nations college course will coordinate and direct the March 20-22, 2024 conference.
Senior Political Science major and International and Global Studies minor Ella Miller, Secretary-General of this year’s conference, said “this was my third and final time at SRMUN and I can confirm it just gets better each year. I have had the pleasure this year of not only achieving awards myself but watching those I have mentored thrive in this environment.”
The Winthrop students who won awards at SRMUN in Atlanta were:
Ryan Noblett, Parker Short - Canada
Best Delegate Award - World Trade Organization (WTO)
TJ Carbon, Sera Crookes - Algeria
Best Delegate Award – Commission on the Status of Women (CSW)
Canada - Honorable Delegation Award
CeCe Haynes, Caden Johnson, Ryan Noblett, Parker Short
Ella Miller, Head Delegate
Algeria - Outstanding Delegation Award
TJ Carbon, Sera Crookes
David Ibragimov, Head Delegate
There are many first-time participants competing in Collegiate Model UN this year, prompting Disney to take her students to get some experience first competing with other collegiate and high school delegates from 12 institutions at the Carolinas Conference Oct. 6-8 at the University of North Carolina, Charlotte.
Winthrop had nine student award winners out of 20 participating students win six awards across its three delegations at UNCC: Australia, Haiti, and Mozambique.
The Winthrop students who won awards at the Carolinas Conference were:
Cynthia Bruce - Australia
Best Position Paper Award - Historical Security Council
Ryan Noblett, Aleksandr Yefimov
Best Position Paper Award - Historical Crisis Committee
Henry Waldrep - Australia
Best Position Paper Award – United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF)
Cynthia Bruce - Australia
Best Delegate Award - Historical United Nations Security Council
TJ Carbon, Sera Crookes - Australia
Best Delegate Award - United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA)
Australia - Honorable Delegation Award
Cynthia Bruce, TJ Carbon, Sera Crookes, Shivani Dahya, Caden Johnson, Henry Waldrep, Ollie Whitfield
Ella Miller, Head Delegate
David Ibragimov, a junior political science major, economics minor, and this year’s conference Director-General, summed up the impact of the Model United Nations Program on Winthrop students: “Looking at our team, I can say that I am surrounded by some of the brightest students I have had the privilege of working with. In our time, they have displayed great skill in speeches, coalition building, and policy writing to solve unique problems that were presented to them. The awards that we have received, although not an objective indicator of success, show the dedication the delegates have put in, and I believe, act as proof of the capabilities of our team. This conference has been able to show that Winthrop is exceptional, with both wonderful professors acting as guides for the future generations and the students, who are already showing marks and competence of great leaders.”
For more information, contact Judy Longshaw, news and media services manager, at longshawj@winthrop.edu.
