(MURRAY, Ky.) — The Murray State University Model United Nations (UN) Team triumphed at the Midwest Model UN Conference held in St. Louis, Missouri, from February 18-21, earning four prestigious awards.
Awards and Recognitions
- Position Paper Awards:
- UN Trade and Development: Oumou Baba Diombele and Landyn Dotson, representing Haiti, focused on:
- The role of women in micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises
- Implementation of regional free trade areas
- General Assembly Second Committee: Nate Allbritten and Ramsey Watson, also representing Haiti, addressed:
- Promoting agricultural development for food security
- E-commerce and the digital economy to achieve Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 8
- UN Environment Assembly: Nate Hunt and Madeline West tackled:
- Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 6 and the right to water for all
- Sustainable action for good mineral resource governance
- UN Trade and Development: Oumou Baba Diombele and Landyn Dotson, representing Haiti, focused on:
- Outstanding Delegation Honorable Mention: Recognized were Laney Evans, Sam Jackanicz, Claire McCormick, Gracie Tomolonis, and Aiden Wild, representing Australia.
Faculty Support
Dr. Brittany Wood, assistant professor of political science, serves as the faculty advisor for the team. She expressed pride in her students’ dedication, stating, “Our Model UN team has been preparing for this conference since August, dedicating countless hours to research, debate, and collaboration. Their hard work and commitment to excellence have truly paid off.”
Dr. Marc Polizzi, associate professor and chair of the political science and sociology departments, noted the conference’s significance for students. “It provided an opportunity to tackle complex global issues and negotiate with delegations from other universities. The students distinguished themselves as outstanding representatives of Murray State, illustrating their diplomatic skills and teamwork.”
Participation
The conference featured over 35 delegations from 29 universities, showcasing the competitive spirit and collaborative efforts of participants.
Team Members
Representing Australia:
- Sam Jackanicz, Trenton, Florida (Engineering Physics)
- Laney Evans, Calvert City, Kentucky (Political Science/Public Relations)
- Claire McCormick, Shumway, Illinois (English/Literature)
- Aiden Wild, Almo, Kentucky (Economics)
- Gracie Tomolonis, Paris, Tennessee (Political Science/Legal Studies)
Representing Haiti:
- Oumou Baba Diombele, Bamako, Mali (International Studies)
- Ali Khatib, Murray, Kentucky (Political Science/Legal Studies)
- Nathaniel Hunt, Bethalto, Illinois (Political Science/Pre-Law)
- Landyn Dotson, Mount Vernon, Illinois (Political Science)
- Josselyn Hernandez, Huntingdon, Tennessee (Political Science/Legal Studies)
- Madeline West, Owensboro, Kentucky (Political Science/Legal Studies)
- Ramsey Watson, Henderson, Kentucky (Biology/Biomedical Science)
- Nate Allbritten, Paducah, Kentucky (Political Science)
The success at the Midwest Model UN Conference underscores the commitment and talent of the Murray State University Model UN Team, marking a significant achievement in their academic journey.
