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

On February 7-9, 2020, 13 members of the Baylor Model United Nations team participated in the 5th Annual Texas Model United Nations Conference in Houston. The Osgood Center for International Studies staged the conference, and the University of Houston Honors College served as hosts for the conference where approximately 75 students took on the role of diplomats in simulated sessions of four United Nations committees: General Assembly First Committee, General Assembly Second Committee, Security Council, and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. At the conference, Baylor MUN represented the Member States of Bangladesh, Germany, Kuwait and the Russian Federation.

Baylor students attending the conference began their preparation in October 2019, spending the months leading up to the event researching from the perspective of their assigned member state a wide spectrum of international issues ranging from security to sustainability to human rights, including:

• Youth, Peace and Security (Security)
• The Impact of Climate-Related Disasters on International Peace and Security (Security)
• Developments in the Field of Information and Telecommunications in the Context of International Security (GA 1)
• Nuclear Disarmament and International Security (GA 1)
• Inclusive Development for Persons with Disabilities (GA 3)
• Combating Human Trafficking (GA 3)
• Providing Adequate Shelter for Refugees and Internally Displaced Persons (UNHCR)
• Supporting Sustainable Return and Reintegration of Refugees and Internally Displaced Persons (UNHCR)

Model UN events are called conferences rather than competitions, given the focus on the educational experience. At conferences students are expected to collaborate with other delegates to reach consensus on resolutions. Model UN conferences do confer awards to delegates and teams in recognition of excellence in both preparation and participation in committee. At TexMUN these awards are based both on staff and peer voting.

At TexMUN 2020 Baylor MUN team members were recognized by both the conference staff and their peers with awards at both the team and individual levels, including Outstanding Delegation Awards in every category –– staff, peer, and position paper. A full list of award winners is provided below.

In addition, we would like to recognize Anna Kate Walker, who served as a chair in the Security Council. For more information about the conference, visit the Osgood Center website.

Baylor MUN is able to participate in these academic conferences due to the generous support of the Department of Political Science and the College of Arts & Sciences. We are grateful for their continued encouragement of our team members, who will travel to New York in April 2020 to participate in the National Model United Nations Conference, representing Sri Lanka.

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TexMUN 2020 Awards

This list recognizes all students who participated in the conference.

Overall Delegation Awards – Staff Awards

Outstanding Delegations
Belgium – Lubbock High
China – University of Texas at Dallas
Germany – Baylor University
Kuwait – Baylor University
Russian Federation – Baylor University

Distinguished Delegations
Bangladesh – Baylor University
Ghana – University of Texas at Dallas
Lebanon – Lamar University
Poland – University of Texas at San Antonio

Honorable Mention Delegations
France – University of Houston
Mexico – Lamar University
South Africa – University of Houston
United Kingdom – Lubbock High School
USA – American Public University

Outstanding Delegate in Committee – Peer Awards

General Assembly First
Kuwait – Raquel Nunez, Baylor University
Lebanon – Lamar University

General Assembly Third
China – University of Texas at Dallas
Russian Federation – Caelan Elliott, Baylor University

UNHCR
France – University of Houston
Germany – Blakely Lowe, Baylor University
Russian Federation – Valerie Stewart, Baylor University

Security Council
China – University of Texas at Dallas
Kuwait – Preston Heard, Baylor University

Outstanding Position Papers – Staff Awards

General Assembly First
France – University of Houston
Kuwait – Raquel Nunez, Baylor University
Russian Federation- Noah Wiatrek, Baylor University

General Assembly Third
Kuwait – Esther Ihowa, Baylor University
Lebanon – Lamar University
Russian Federation – Caelan Elliott, Baylor University

UNHCR
France – University of Houston
Germany – Maria Torres, Baylor University
Russian Federation – Valerie Stewart, Baylor University

Security Council
Belgium – Lubbock High School
Germany – Anna Kate Walker, Baylor University
Kuwait – Preston Heard, Baylor University

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Caption for photo:

Bottom Row (L to R): Raquel Nunez (Senior, University Scholar), Kaitlin Ochs (Junior, International Studies), Lauren McLane (Junior, International Studies & Professional Writing & Rhetoric), Blakely Lowe (Freshman, Political Science & French), Julia Kovarovic (Sophomore, Russian & International Studies), Anna Kate Walker (Sophomore, Economics & International Studies), Valerie Stewart (Junior, Biology)

Top Row (L to R): Esther Ihowa (International Exchange Student, Paris, France), Preston Heard (Senior, History), Danish Ahmad (Freshman, Biology), Sophia Fulton (Junior, Business Fellow), Caelan Elliott (Junior, University Scholar), Noah Wiatrek (Senior, Political Science)