Bowling Green State University’s Model UN team students recently won an award for their performance at the 2021 American Model UN (AMUN) conference in Chicago.
Representing three countries in total, the 15-student team won for its “outstanding representation of Jordan” on the conference’s first General Assembly committee. Comprised of members of the University’s International Relations Organization (IRO), BGSU students competed against more than 900 students from more than 100 universities.
“It is truly an honor to have won this award with my team,” said Sophia Stockham, Senior and President of BGSU Model UN Team. “My teammates have worked so hard, and I’m happy to see how far we’ve come. Hearing different ideas and writing solutions together really makes you aware of the important issues facing society today and how we can come together to solve them. I know that my experiences with this organization not only prepared me for my future career, but also helped me grow as a person.
A simulation of the real United Nations, AMUN asks “delegates” to draft resolutions on current global issues facing the UN. Participants then negotiate with students representing other countries to establish agreements and understandings. AMUN also replicates UN Security Councils, past and present.
“It’s so rewarding to see these students earn this recognition as a team,” said Marc Simon, IRO advisor and associate professor of political science at BGSU. “The award is the direct result of collaborative teamwork and a passion for learning. The hard work and dedication of these students is to be admired, and I have enjoyed watching them grow in skill and confidence.
In addition to the team competition, members of the BGSU Model UN team also represented the country of Guinea at the historic 1973 Security Council. at 6 a.m.
“BGSU Model UN students walk away with life skills to support them in nearly every career path and every situation,” Simon said. “From critical thinking to public speaking and cultural understanding, students develop and hone the skills necessary for everyday communication and articulating and understanding different viewpoints.”
The BGSU Model UN team has been participating in the AMUN conference since 2001.
