
The University of New Mexico
NEWS RELEASE
Contact: Carolyn Gonzales 277-5920
cgonzal@unm.edu
April 12, 2007
UNM Student World Affairs Delegation Receives Int’l RecognitionThe University of New Mexico now boasts an internationally recognized, award winning Model United Nations team. Fifteen members of the UNM World Affairs Delegation participated in the Harvard World Model United Nations conference in Geneva, Switzerland recently and returned with three awards for excellence in diplomacy.
Award winners included Julio Acosta, representing Ecuador in the World Health Organization (WHO); Lauren Huesemann, representing Mozambique in the United
Nations Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM); and Mikal Davis, representing Mozambique in the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).
The UNM World Affairs Delegation competed against 1,700 students from universities in over 35 countries, including Pakistan, Senegal, China, Venezuela, European countries, and many more. In total, only 100 awards were presented.
Many colleges and universities have courses designed specifically to prepare students for the model UN conference. UNM does not have such a course, but many of the participants prepared through an independent study in political science. They learned in advance which committees they would be assigned to as well as which countries they would represent.
“Political Science faculty Ellen Grigsby and Chris Butler worked with them on writing briefs and simulating negotiations, but primarily their work was self directed,” said Christine Sauer, economics professor and administrative advisor of the group.
“As one of the only teams from a public school competing in Harvard World Model UN, the UNM World Affairs Delegation is proud to bring international recognition to UNM. Now in its third year, the World Affairs Delegation plans to continue competing nationally and internationally, as well as raise awareness of foreign affairs among the student body,” said Jay Reidy, delegation member.
“The World Affairs Delegation is grateful for the generous support it has received from the community, UNM, and the wonderful faculty who made this trip possible,” Reidy added.
“I am pleased with the students’ performance at the conference and applaud them for winning three prizes. In addition to preparing for the conference, they were on their own to raise necessary funds. They created a master plan to follow that allowed them to raise more than was budgeted,” Sauer said.
For more information, contact Jay Reidy, 235-8980, Brian Moore, 310-5913 or
Rose Stevenson, wa777ves@unm.edu.
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