Students shine once again at annual Model United Nations conference

FIU’s Model United Nations (MUN) team returned from the National Model United Nations (UN) Conference in New York with awards in tow for the 13th consecutive year. The team received an “Outstanding Delegation” first-place award for excellence in position papers and a “Distinguished Delegation” second-place award for performance. This marks the fifth consecutive year that the FIU team has received an “Outstanding Delegation” award.

The five-day conference is the oldest and most prestigious UN competition for college students, having been created by the UN in the late 1940s. More than 3,200 college students from 226 universities from the U.S., Europe, Africa, South America and Asia participated, according to Jeanne Kates, political science instructor and director of FIU’s MUN program. Sessions were held at the United Nations with closing ceremonies held in UN General Assembly Hall.
Closing Ceremonies in the UN General Assembly

“I am particularly proud of the position papers award because, to me, that represents a high degree of academic achievement,” said Kates.

The FIU delegation, representing Estonia, included Alex Alonso, head delegate; Steffano Montano, assistant head delegate; Ola Akache; Vivian Gonzalez; Robert Jimenez; Victoria Lerma; Carmen Murphy; Michelle Oria; Catalina Quintero; Aaron Ramirez; Aurelio Rivero; Daniel Tacoronte; Jesica Thavarajah; and Daniel Villegas. This year, Khaleel Seecharan, a former MUN participant, traveled with the team as its Faculty Advisor.

The team is groomed via a three-credit course offered each spring semester by the Department of Political Science in conjunction with FIU’s Jack D. Gordon Institute for Public Policy and Citizenship Studies. The program is also supported by the FIU Student Government Association and the College of Arts and Sciences Dean’s Office. Students are drawn from across the university and are interviewed before being admitted to the class, according to John Stack, director of the institute.

Kates, who has been a driving force behind the program’s success, is retiring from the university in May.

“Jeanne Kates has played an exceptional role in the development and success of the program,” said Stack. “As a teacher and mentor, Professor Kates has made a major contribution to the education of our students, especially in the areas of research, analysis, writing and advocacy. She also has the ability to inspire and motivate students to reach higher levels of achievement. She will be missed.”

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