Baylor Model United Nations team represents five countries at state conference

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By Rebecca J. Flavin, lecturer in political science and Model UN advisor

TexMUN 16

On Jan. 15-17, 2016, 13 Baylor students participated in the second annual Texas Model United Nations conference, hosted by the Osgood Center for International Studies and held at the Center for International Business Education at the University of Texas at Austin. Our students represented five nations at the conference:

  • China
  • Germany
  • Slovakia
  • Spain
  • Vietnam

Along with our Baylor University delegates, students from TCU, the University of Texas at Austin, Texas A&M, the University of Texas at Dallas, the University of Texas Permian-Basin, Lamar University, Odessa College, Sacred Heart (Puerto Rico), Bahçeşehir University (Turkey) and the Osgood Center (Washington, D.C.) participated in the conference, simulating four committees: General Assembly First Committee (Security and Disarmament), The World Health Organization, Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) and the Security Council.

The topics the students researched and discussed at the conference included:

  • Increasing Access to Medical Care in Developing Countries (WHO)
  • Advancing Women’s Participation in Mediation and Peace Processes (Security)
  • Market Access (APEC)
  • Use of Nuclear Materials for Peaceful Purposes (GA 1)
  • Enhancing International Cooperation on the Implementation of Counter-Terrorism (Security)
  • Role of the Media in International Security (GA 1)
  • Providing Basic and Primary Health Care Services After Natural Disasters (WHO)
  • Energy (APEC)
  • Nuclear Free Zones (GA 1)

Our students performed admirably at the conference, learning both about the United Nations and how to be an effective diplomat. While I wish to emphasize that awards are not the point of these invaluable educational experiences and should never be the metric by wish we judge how much our students are learning, when our students are recognized for their participation, we should be doubly proud of their efforts.

Below, I will highlight the Baylor students who received awards. I will also recognize the award winners for all of the schools who participated, in order to foster the spirit of cooperation and mutual support advanced by the National Collegiate Conference Association — the organization that sponsors both TexMUN and NMUN-NY, the international conference that 14 Baylor students will attend on March 19-25, 2016.

On behalf of the students, I thank everyone for their continued support of Baylor Model UN, a program that helps us work toward our Pro Futuris aspiration of providing transformational educational experiences for our students that prepare them to be global leaders.

INDEX FOR PHOTO ABOVE (with award winners noted):

Bottom Row (L to R)

  • Conor Burns, senior, political science and philosophy — Team Award for Outstanding Delegation (China)
  • Carolina Gutierrez, sophomore, pre-neuroscience — Individual Award for Outstanding Position Paper (Spain, World Health Organization)
  • Kim Andrade, sophomore, political science — Team Award for Outstanding Delegation (China)
  • Jessica Chapa, junior, political science
  • Maria Astudillo, sophomore, pre-neuroscience — Individual Award for Outstanding Position Paper (Germany, World Health Organization)
  • Shannon Black, senior, international studies

Top Row (L to R)

  • Luis Andres Torres, freshman, pre-neuroscience — Team Award for Outstanding Delegation (China)
  • Grant McDonald, senior, political science
  • Renie Saenz, Baylor MUN Head Delegate; senior, history — Team Award for Honorable Mention Delegation (Vietnam)
  • Kate Farley, junior, University Scholar — Individual Award for Outstanding Delegate in Committee (GA First); Team Award for Outstanding Delegation (China)
  • Shannon Long, junior, biology
  • Curtis King, senior, political science
  • Rebecca Easley, senior, history — Team Award for Honorable Mention Delegation (Vietnam)

2016 Texas Collegiate Model United Nations — Full List of Awards

General Assembly First Committee — Outstanding Delegate (Peer Recognition)
China — Baylor University
United Kingdom — UT Dallas

World Health Organization — Outstanding Delegate (Peer Recognition)
USA — UT Austin
Brazil — UT Austin

Security Council — Outstanding Delegate (Peer Recognition)
Russian Federation — TCU
Jordan — TCU

APEC — Outstanding Delegate (Peer Recognition)
Singapore — Osgood Center
Chinese Taipei — UT Dallas

Outstanding Position Paper — GA First (Staff Recognition)
France — Sacred Heart
Syria — UT Dallas

Outstanding Position Paper — World Health Organization (Staff Recognition)
Germany — Baylor University
Spain — Baylor University

Outstanding Position Paper — Security Council (Staff Recognition)
Jordan — TCU
Russian Federation — TCU

Outstanding Position Paper — APEC (Staff Recognition)
Hong Kong — Osgood Center
Mexico — Osgood Center

Outstanding Team Delegation (Staff Recognition)
China — Baylor University
Angola — Texas A & M
Chinese Taipei — UT Dallas

Distinguished Team Delegation (Staff Recognition)
Jordan — TCU
Russian Federation — TCU
Egypt — UT Austin
New Zealand — Osgood Center

Honorable Mention Team Delegation (Staff Recognition)
Venezuela — Lamar
Brazil — UT Austin
France — Sacred Heart
Japan — UT Austin
Vietnam — Baylor University

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